Lin Hui, the last of the two giant panda, on loan to Chiang Mai Zoo from China since 2003, has died at the age of 21 after developing unusual symptoms yesterday (Tuesday).
An official statement is expected from Chiang Mai Zoo about the actual cause of the panda’s death this afternoon.
Lin Hui and Chuang Chuang were two giant pandas from Sichuan, China, on loan to Chiang Mai zoo. The pandas arrived at Chiang Mai Zoo on October 12th, 2003 to begin a ten-year conservation program to breed giant pandas.
Lin Hui, a female, was born on September 28th, 2001, in the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas in Wolong.
Lin Hui and Chuang Chuang successfully bred artificially and produced a cub, named Lin Ping, on May 27th, 2009 at Chiang Mai Zoo. Ling Ping was later sent to China after the death of Chuang Chuang.
Chuang Chuang died of heart failure on September 16th, 2019 in his enclosure. Officials said he collapsed shortly after standing up following a meal of bamboo leaves.
Lin Hui celebrated her 21st birthday last September. She was named Thewi in Thai and Kam-oei in the Lanna dialect on October 12th, 2003, but she was best known under the name of Lin Hui.
According to Chiang Mai Zoo, more than seven million people have visited the zoo since October 2003 to see the two giant pandas.
