Chi Chi, a giant panda at London Zoo, inspired the original World Wide Fund for Nature logo.
The panda arrived at London Zoo in 1958 and became a popular public attraction. Its distinctive black-and-white appearance helped designers create a memorable symbol that could reproduce clearly in black ink while representing wildlife conservation.
The first WWF logo was designed by Gerald Watterson and later refined by Peter Scott. The organization was founded in 1961 as the World Wildlife Fund, and the panda was retained when its English name later changed to World Wide Fund for Nature in many countries.
The logo is often described as merely a generic panda, but Chi Chi supplied the specific visual inspiration. WWF’s panda mark does not depict a particular conservation campaign or national emblem; it became a broad symbol for the protection of endangered species and natural habitats.