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China questions panda death at Japanese zoo
By Feng Jianmin |
September 14, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA has sent experts to Japan to investigate the death of a giant panda on loan to a Japanese zoo during a breeding program, reported the Oriental Morning Post.
The 14-year-old panda, named Long Long in Chinese and Kou Kou in Japanese, died last Thursday for failing to recover from an anesthetic.
The staff with Kobe zoo attempted to extract sperm from Long Long to impregnate a female panda in the zoo.
Chinese experts suspected the death was caused by overdose of anesthetic, and questioned why the zoo was extracting sperm outside the animal's mating season.
"The 14-year-old panda was in his youth when he died," said a research expert in Sichuan's Wolong area who fed Long Long before he was sent to Japan. "Male pandas only mate during March to May. Little sperm could be generated in autumn."
In 1999, China Wildlife Conservation Association signed with the park in Kobe a 10-year contract to research giant pandas' breeding habits.
According to the contract, China sent two pandas to Japan in 2000. In return, Japan agreed to donate US$1 million each year to a fund for protecting pandas.
Long Long was sent to Japan in 2002 to replace the original male panda which was unable to breed.
Giant pandas, a highly endangered species native to parts of China, are notoriously slow at reproducing in captivity.
The Chinese government started leasing and presenting giant pandas to other countries in the 1950s to show diplomatic friendship.
Since 1982, giant pandas were mainly leased long-term for research purposes.
The 14-year-old panda, named Long Long in Chinese and Kou Kou in Japanese, died last Thursday for failing to recover from an anesthetic.
The staff with Kobe zoo attempted to extract sperm from Long Long to impregnate a female panda in the zoo.
Chinese experts suspected the death was caused by overdose of anesthetic, and questioned why the zoo was extracting sperm outside the animal's mating season.
"The 14-year-old panda was in his youth when he died," said a research expert in Sichuan's Wolong area who fed Long Long before he was sent to Japan. "Male pandas only mate during March to May. Little sperm could be generated in autumn."
In 1999, China Wildlife Conservation Association signed with the park in Kobe a 10-year contract to research giant pandas' breeding habits.
According to the contract, China sent two pandas to Japan in 2000. In return, Japan agreed to donate US$1 million each year to a fund for protecting pandas.
Long Long was sent to Japan in 2002 to replace the original male panda which was unable to breed.
Giant pandas, a highly endangered species native to parts of China, are notoriously slow at reproducing in captivity.
The Chinese government started leasing and presenting giant pandas to other countries in the 1950s to show diplomatic friendship.
Since 1982, giant pandas were mainly leased long-term for research purposes.
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