The inspiration for the panda in WWF’s world-recognised logo came from Chi-Chi, a giant panda that had arrived at the London Zoo in 1961, when WWF was being created. Aware of the need for a strong, recognisable symbol that would overcome all language barriers, WWF’s founders agreed that the large, furry animal with her appealing, black-patched eyes would make an excellent logo.
The first sketches were done by the British environmentalist and artist Gerald Watterson in 1961. Based on these, Sir Peter Scott, one of WWF’s founders, drew the first logo, and said at the time: “We wanted an animal that is beautiful, is endangered, and one loved by people around the world. We also wanted an animal that symbolised all that was disappearing in the natural world.”
The black-and-white panda has since come to stand as a symbol for conservation worldwide.