Jia Jia, the world’s oldest panda in captivity, dies at age 38: Ocean Park

The oldest giant panda living in captivity, 38-year-old Jia Jia, was euthanised in Hong Kong after rapidly deteriorating health over the past two weeks, her owners Ocean Park said on Sunday.

Jia Jia, whose name means “good”, had been gifted to Hong Kong from China in 1999 along with another panda, An An, to mark the second anniversary of the city’s handover from former colonial ruler Britain. 

In recent weeks Jia Jia’s food consumption had sharply declined from over 10kg (22 pounds) to less than three kg (six pounds) per day and her average weight dropped from 71kg (156 pounds) to around 67kg (147 pounds).

“Over the past few days, she has been spending less time awake and showing no interest in food or fluids. Her condition became worse this morning. Jia Jia was not able to walk about without difficulties and spent the day laying down,” Ocean Park said in a statement.

“Her state became so debilitated that based on ethical reasons and in order to prevent suffering, veterinarians … agreed to a humane euthanasia for Jia Jia.”

Pandas are endangered because most of their natural habitat has been destroyed for timber, farming and construction, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

A Chinese government survey in 2014 estimated 1,864 pandas live in the wild, up 17 percent from 2003. They also have an exceptionally short breeding season, with females fertile for just 24 to 36 hours a year, says a nonprofit body, Pandas International. 

Words: Reuters
 


Got a tip? Send it to us at hongkong@coconuts.co


 



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on