China’s panda dies in Japan during sperm collection

Source: China Hush

Could not have come at a better time to add salt to the wound for the Sino-Japan relations, which was already “cracked” over the arrest of the Chinese fishing boat captain after the collision incident in waters near the territorial disputed Diaoyutai Islands.  This time, China’s national treasure, giant panda died in Japan.

(From Taobao) Kobe (the sixth-largest city in Japan) government announced on September 9, the 14-year-old male giant panda Xing Xing (formerly known has Long Long) kept in the city Oji Zoo died at noon on that day. According to Japan’s Kyodo news, Xing Xing died under anesthesia when staff tried to collect sperms from him for artificial insemination.

Yesterday, the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center remained silent on the matter. Reporter learned that it is common practice to put panda under anesthesia before collecting sperms for artificial insemination during the giant panda breeding work, however if the improper dose of anesthetic is will result in unpredictable consequences.

This giant panda Xing Xing was sent to the zoo in Japan along with a female giant panda Dan Dan in December 2002.

(Update from Qingdao News) In Japan for 8 years, 14-year-old male panda, “Xing Xing” died suddenly, some experts questioned the cause of death was because the Zoo put Xing Xing under anesthesia and tried to collect sperm outside of the mating season. China’s State Forestry Administration has asked the Japanese side to take care of Xing Xing’s body, also set up an expert group to rush to identify the cause of death in Japan.

Once kept Xing Xing, veterinary expert at Sichuan Wolong Giant Panda Research Center said, the Japanese zoo did not notify Wolong Center before trying to collect sperms. They suspected that the sudden death has to do with anesthesia. Hospital principal Doctor Tong said, 14-year-old panda is a young adult, but from a professional perspective, it is not the mating season to collect sperms. “In the fall, Panda produces very little to sperm; the male giant panda is a single-season estrus animal, produces sperms only once a year, that is between March to May in the spring. After that there will be none to collect.”

China Wildlife Conservation Association said, under the Sino-Japanese cooperation panda breeding agreement, death of panda amounts to 500,000 US dollars of compensation.

Read the original story at China Hush