History of WWF's panda logo

WWF’s familiar black and white panda logo was inspired by a real-life giant panda: Chi-Chi was an international sensation at the London Zoo in 1961, the same year WWF was established.

Aware of the need for a strong, recognizable symbol that would overcome all language barriers, WWF's founders agreed that the big, furry animal with her appealing, black-patched eyes and distinctive shape would make an excellent logo. The first sketches were done by the British environmentalist and artist, Gerald Watterson.

Based on these drawings, Sir Peter Scott—one of WWF’s founders—created the first logo. "We wanted an animal that is beautiful, is endangered, and one loved by many people in the world for its appealing qualities,” said Scott at the time. “We also wanted an animal that had an impact in black and white to save money on printing costs."

Today, the black-and-white panda is recognized the world over and stands as an enduring symbol for conservation.