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Chinese experts probe death of a panda in Japan's zoo
By Feng Jianmin |
September 13, 2010, Monday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
CHINA has sent experts to Japan to investigate the death of a giant panda on loan to the Kobe Zoo under a breeding program, reported Oriental Morning Post today.
The 14-year-old male panda, named Longlong in Chinese or Kou Kou in Japanese, died on Thursday, failing to recover from an anesthetic.
The zoo staff attempted to extract sperm from Longlong to impregnate a female panda in the zoo.
Chinese experts suspected that the death was caused by an anesthetic overdose, 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 an expert with Sichuan Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Center, who fed the panda Longlong before it was leased to Japan. "Male panda would only mate during March to May. Little sperm could be generated in autumn."
The panda landed in Japan in 2002, and its lease was extended by five years when the first contract ended in 2007.
Giant pandas, a highly endangered species native to parts of China, are notoriously infertile in captivity.
The Chinese government started leasing and giving giant pandas to foreign countries in the 1950s to show friendship. Since 1982, giant pandas were mainly leased on long-term bases for research purposes.
The 14-year-old male panda, named Longlong in Chinese or Kou Kou in Japanese, died on Thursday, failing to recover from an anesthetic.
The zoo staff attempted to extract sperm from Longlong to impregnate a female panda in the zoo.
Chinese experts suspected that the death was caused by an anesthetic overdose, 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 an expert with Sichuan Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Center, who fed the panda Longlong before it was leased to Japan. "Male panda would only mate during March to May. Little sperm could be generated in autumn."
The panda landed in Japan in 2002, and its lease was extended by five years when the first contract ended in 2007.
Giant pandas, a highly endangered species native to parts of China, are notoriously infertile in captivity.
The Chinese government started leasing and giving giant pandas to foreign countries in the 1950s to show friendship. Since 1982, giant pandas were mainly leased on long-term bases for research purposes.
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