Ill panda April Fool story ‘went too far’
Print Edition
AN April Fool report claiming that one of Taiwan’s beloved pandas had been infected by parasites and could be euthanized “went too far,” the mayor of Taipei said yesterday.
The story, published on the homepages of Next Media websites in Hong Kong and Taiwan, claimed that Yuan Yuan, mother of the first Taiwan-born panda cub, Yuan Zai, was very ill.
“Taipei Zoo officials have been discussing euthanizing her ... much like Copenhagen Zoo recently did with its giraffe Marius,” the story said.
The story sparked concern from local media and saw Taipei government officials rush to check with zoo authorities.
“All the three pandas have been in good shape,” Taipei Mayor Hua Lung-bin said.
“We don’t know the motive of the story. The joke has been taken too far,” Hua added.
To reassure the public, the zoo released photographs showing a lively-looking Yuan Yuan.
Panda-mania swept Taiwan after her cub was delivered on July 6 last year.
Since her public debut on January 6, the cub Yuan Zai has attracted more than 1.6 million visitors, according to zoo authorities.
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