Archaeologists have uncovered remains from a 2,200-year-old site near the tomb of a Chinese emperor, including bones from a giant panda and a tapir. The discovery was reported by live science, highlighting that subjects of Emperor Wen of China, who lived around 180 to 157 BCE, sent gifts to spirits or deities and buried them near Xi’an to honor the rulers and the afterlife.
The finding of the tapir bones surprised researchers because it indicates the animal once roamed the region. Prior beliefs suggested that tapirs had vanished from China more than two millennia ago, making this a notable glimpse into ancient fauna and cultural practices of the era.
In addition to panda bones assigned to the species Ailuropoda melanoleuca and the tapir, investigators recovered remains from several other animals. These included a gaur or Indian bison, a tiger, the green peafowl, yaks, the golden snub-nosed monkey, and the takin, a goat-like ungulate. Today, these species continue to exist in China, though some face pressures from habitat loss and changing ecosystems.
While this discovery provides the first solid physical evidence of a tapir living in ancient China, historical records and artwork from the period already suggested such animals might have been present. Images resembling tapirs appear in ancient Chinese art, and various stories reference similar creatures, indicating a broader cultural awareness of tapirs alongside other valued animals.
Currently, five tapir species survive, with the remains from the Xi’an find belonging to the Malayan tapir, Tapirus indicus. Adult Malayan tapirs can reach about 2.4 meters in length and weigh as much as 320 kilograms. The species is considered threatened, with fewer than 2,500 mature individuals in the wild. Its current range is limited to parts of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Thailand, where conservation efforts aim to preserve habitat and safeguard populations.
The broader significance of this ancient discovery lies in how it enriches understanding of early Chinese ritual practices, trade, and relationships with wildlife. By linking physical remnants to long-standing traditions, researchers gain a clearer picture of how animals were perceived, utilized, and valued in ceremonial contexts during the era of Emperor Wen and his heirs. The site underscores the deep historical roots of human-animal connections in the region and invites ongoing study of how such remains can illuminate daily life, belief systems, and environmental conditions of ancient times.
As researchers continue to examine the burial context, further insights may emerge about the network of exchanges that brought exotic animals to imperial sites. The Xi’an discovery therefore not only broadens knowledge of ancient biodiversity but also enriches the narrative of cultural reverence toward wildlife in early Chinese civilizations.
Such findings resonate with contemporary audiences in North America and beyond, reminding readers that the past was filled with complex interactions between people, pets, sacred beings, and the living world—ties that still influence how cultures remember and interpret wildlife today.