World oldest captive panda dies at 38
Print Edition
THE world’s oldest-ever panda in captivity has been euthanized because her health was deteriorating rapidly in the past two weeks.
Hong Kong Ocean Park said a veterinarian euthanized 38-year-old Jia Jia yesterday evening to prevent further suffering and for ethical reasons.
Guinness World Records recognized Jia Jia as the oldest giant panda to live in captivity. The average lifespan for a panda in the wild is 18 to 20 years, while in captivity it’s 30 years, according to Guinness.
Born in the wild, Jia Jia was taken to live at a breeding center in southwestern China’s Sichuan Province in 1980, when she was around 2.
Died at the age of 38, about 114 years old in human terms, the female panda had lost sharply her food consumption from more than 10 kg to less than 3 kg per day, according to a spokeswoman from the theme park.
Jia Jia had spent less time awake and shown no interest in food or fluids for the past few days. The panda’s condition worsened yesterday morning when she was unable to walk and spent the day lying down.
Leo Kung Lin-cheng, Ocean Park’s chairman, said Jia Jia was a member of their family who had spent 17 wonderful years with Hong Kong people, and she will be deeply missed.
He also thanked the panda for the wonderful things she had brought to Hong Kong people and visitors from around the world.
A spokesman with the Hong Kong government said that it was saddened by the panda’s death and expressed appreciation to the theme park for its care for Jia Jia and the support of the giant panda breeding center at the Wolong nature reserve in Sichuan.
Jia Jia was presented together with male panda An An by the central government to Hong Kong as a gift in 1999. Jia Jia gave births to six panda cubs.
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