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Chi Chi was captured on 4th July 1957 by a Chinese collecting team. She was taken by rail to Peking Zoo, where she was cared for by a Chinese girl, who lived with her day and night. She was believed to be about six months old on capture.

In 1957 the Austrian animal collection, Mr Heini Denmer, then resident of Nairobi, was commissioned by an American Zoo to negotiate an exchange of animals from East Africa for one Giant Panda. He took a large collection of animals to China, and an exchange was arranged. He was given the choice of three Giant Pandas and he chose Chi Chi, the youngest, and took her into his charge on 5th May 1958. At this time America had broken off diplomatic relations with China, and had imposed an embargo on the importation of Chinese good into America. An import licence was, therefore, not granted to import Chi Chi into America.

Mr Denmer took Chi Chi on a tour of European Zoos and on 5th September 1958, they came to London Zoo - initially on a three-week visit. During this visit negotiations were entered into and, with the assistance of Granada Television, Chi Chi was purchased by the Zoological Society of London at 11.59 pm on 26th September 1958.

In March 1966 Chi Chi was invited to Moscow by the Russian Zoo authorities. She flew out in a specially converted BEA Vanguard, and shortly after her arrival was introduced to the Russian male Panda An An. This meeting was not successful and it was decided to leave Chi Chi in Moscow until the autumn mating period. In October the two Giant Pandas were put together in the same enclosure but Chi Chi rejected An An's advances and the mating attempt was called off. Chi Chi was returned to London, and early in 1967 London Zoo asked if Moscow Zoo would send An An to Regent's Park.

On 24th August 1914, en route to war in Europe, Lieutenant Harry Colebourn puchased a black bear cub at White River, Ontario. He called her Winnie after his home town in Winnipeg. Lt. Colebourn took her with him to England, where his regiment was training. The bear became the pet of the soldiers and the mascot of the regiment. She was left at London Zoo for safekeeping when the regiment went to fight in France. Lt. Colebourn had intended to take Winnie back to Canada with him when the war was over, and he often visited her at the Zoo when on leave. However, when the war ended, Lt. Colebourn donated Winnie to London Zoo in appreciated of the care that had been taken of her in those years, and in recognition that Winnie had become a great favourite with visitors. Winnie was said to have a remarkably good nature, was very tame, and could be stroked and played with. She used to give children rides and would also eat out of their hands. The author A.A. Milne and his son Christopher were frequent visitors to Winnie. As a result, Winnie the Pooh was named after her. Winnie died in 1934. A statue was presented to London Zoo by the people of Manitoba on 19th July 1995