HANGZHOU, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The deaths of a giant panda on Feb. 9 in Hangzhou Safari Park and another on Feb. 10 in Hangzhou Zoo were announced in an official statement issued on Saturday.
The joint announcement from the Hangzhou forestry and water resources bureau, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding said that Banban, a panda at the Hangzhou Safari Park, and Xiangguo, a panda at the Hangzhou Zoo, had died following illnesses despite medical treatment on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, respectively.
Autopsies determined that Banban died of an intestinal obstruction, and Xiangguo of mesenteric volvulus. Both conditions led to multiple organ failure. The respective mortality rates of these acute abdominal diseases are up to 60 percent and 100 percent in giant pandas, according to the announcement, which classified them as major diseases in captive panda populations.
Authorities have announced an urgent investigation into both zoological facilities. Effective immediately, the panda exhibits at both the Hangzhou Safari Park and the Hangzhou Zoo have been closed for rectification.
To ensure the well-being of Hangzhou's remaining pandas, Yiyi and Chunsheng, Yiyi will be returned to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, and Chunsheng to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. ■
