Tuan Tuan, one of two giant pandas gifted to Taiwan from China, has died after a brief illness, the Taipei Zoo says.
No cause of death was immediately given, but earlier reports said the panda was believed to have a malignant brain tumor, prompting ChinaTuan Tuan did not respond and after a series of seizures Saturday was placed in an induced coma, according to Taiwanese news reports.Tuan Tuan and his mate, Yuan Yuan, were gifted to the zoo in 2008 during a time of warming relations between China and Taiwan, which split amid civil war in 1949.
The average life span for pandas in the wild is 15-20 years, while they can live for 30 years or more under human care. Ties between Beijing and Taipei have declined sharply in the years since the pair’s arrival, with China cutting off contacts in 2016 following the election of independence-leaning Presidentas a sign of goodwill but maintains ownership over the animals and any cubs they produce. An unofficial national mascot, the animals are native to southwestern China, reproduce rarely and rely almost exclusively on a diet of bamboo.
An estimated 1,800 pandas live in the wild, while another 500 are in zoos or reserves, mostly in Sichuan, where they are a protected species but remain under threat from habitat loss.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Giant panda Tuan Tuan, gift to Taiwan from China, dies after illnessTuan Tuan and his mate, Yuan Yuan, were gifted to the zoo in 2008 during a time of warming relations between China and Taiwan, which split amid civil war in 1949.
Read more »
Symbol of reunion with China, panda Tuan Tuan dies in TaipeiTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Tuan Tuan, one of two giant pandas gifted to Taiwan from China, died Saturday after a brief illness, the Taipei Zoo said. No cause of death was immediately given, but earlier reports said the panda was believed to have a malignant brain tumor, prompting China to send a pair of experts to Taiwan earlier this month to help with his treatment.
Read more »
Famous panda gifted to Taiwan by China passes awayThe panda was put under deep anaesthesia to take CT scans and the team decided to 'let Tuan Tuan continue to sleep' after the results indicated his condition was 'irreversible.'
Read more »