BANGKOK: According to the zoo where she lived, a giant panda on loan from China to Thailand and enthralled animal enthusiasts with a live 24-hour broadcast of her antics passed away on Wednesday at the age of 21.
Details
The third last panda in Thailand, Lin Hui, had been living in an air-conditioned habitat at the Chiang Mai Zoo since 2003 but was scheduled to be sent back to China in October.
The cautious bear was a member of Beijing’s so-called “panda diplomacy” program, as was her partner Chuang Chuang, who passed away in 2019 after suffering a heart attack.
The Zoo Director Explained the Condition of the Panda
According to the zoo’s director Wutthichai Muangman, Lin Hui had a nosebleed on Tuesday and by the evening, was in severe condition, before passing away in the wee hours of Wednesday.
According to him, she passed away early on Wednesday morning despite being transported into the care of a joint Thai-Chinese veterinarian team.
Wutthichai told reporters, “Until Lin Hui left us, we helped her as much as we could.”
The Zoological Park Organization of Thailand’s chairman, Dejboon Maprasert, announced that Chinese and Thai scientists would work together to conduct the autopsy.
Regarding Lin Hui Panda
After years of infertility problems between Lin Hui and Chuang Chuang, Lin Hui gave birth to Lin Ping in 2009 after artificial insemination, igniting a panda craze in Thailand.
Between 2009 and 2012, a live 24-hour “Panda Channel” broadcast captivated animal enthusiasts across the nation. On Wednesday, fans expressed their grief at the animal’s passing on social media.
“I used to watch her on TV. She was what kept me going. Lin Hui, rest in peace,” a Twitter user remarked.
