Tantan, a female giant panda who had been loved at Kobe City's Oji Zoo for over 20 years, died on the night of the 31st. According to the zoo, Tantan was the oldest living animal in Japan at 28 years old, which is equivalent to about 100 years old in humans.
"Tantan" was born in 1995 at a panda breeding center in Sichuan Province, China, and in 2000, when he was four years old, he was sent to the Municipal Oji Zoo in Nada Ward, Kobe City, in hopes of helping with recovery from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. It was lent to.
Their adorable appearance, where they cheerfully eat food and lie down, has gained popularity.
After the loan period was extended twice, it was scheduled to be returned to China by July 2020, but it remained at the zoo due to the continued cancellation of direct flights to its return destination due to the influence of the new coronavirus. .
Then, in 2021, he was diagnosed with a heart disease, and he had recently been closed to the public for treatment, but since October last year, his appetite and amount of exercise had decreased, and his physical function had deteriorated.
Since the 13th of last month, the animal has been sleeping most of the time, and caretakers have been monitoring it 24 hours a day, but on the night of the 31st, it was found that the animal was lying on its stomach with weak breathing, and they carried out resuscitation measures. He died about two hours later.
According to the zoo, Tantan was the oldest living animal in Japan at 28 years old, which is equivalent to about 100 years old in humans.
Director Yujiro Kako said, ``He came to Kobe shortly after the earthquake, gave courage to the citizens of Kobe, and witnessed the recovery.He was like the sun, bringing smiles to everyone who saw and met him. I also want to express my gratitude.''
Starting from the 2nd, the zoo will set up a flower stand and will consider holding a farewell party.