reporter learned from Taipei Zoo on the 19th that the 18-year-old mainland donated Taiwan giant panda " Tuantuan " stopped heartbeat at 13:48 that day. The park will retain fur specimens and bone specimens, and also retain live cells.
Taipei Zoo held a press conference that afternoon that day to introduce that "Tuantuan" epilepsy occurred again at 1:5, 1:56 and 3:54 am on the 19th. Although the medical care team gave anti-epileptic drugs to "Tuantuan", the symptoms of epilepsy continued to occur intermittently. After the veterinarians strengthened anti-epileptic and sedative drugs several times, the epilepsy symptoms were temporarily suspended at 7:3 am. The medical team finally decided to let go and let "Tuantuan" leave in anesthesia sleep. At 1:48 pm that day, Tuantuan's heartbeat stopped.
On May 6, 2019, giant panda "Tuantuan" played in the Panda Pavilion in Taipei Zoo. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Guojun
Mainland donated Taiwan giant pandas "Tuantuan" and "Yuanyuan" since settling home in Taipei Zoo in 2008. They successfully gave birth to cubs " Yuanzai " and "Yuanbao" in 2013 and 2020 respectively, forming a happy and fulfilling small family, which is deeply loved by Taiwanese compatriots.
"Tuantuan" suddenly developed symptoms of epilepsy and foaming mouth in late August this year. On September 18, he was sent to the Animal Hospital affiliated to National Taiwan University for examination and found that there were brain edema and necrosis. After learning that "Tuantuan" was sick, the Giant Panda Protection Research Center established an expert group in late September to maintain close contact with the Taipei Zoo, continue to pay attention to the treatment of "Tuantuan" and provide relevant technical support. From November 1 to 7, two mainland experts went to Taiwan to assist in treatment and visits.
Taipei Zoo said that "Tuantuan" had instant communication with the mainland for four epilepsy seizures on November 17 and three epilepsy seizures on November 18. On the 19th, the mainland was notified due to emergency situations.
Zoo spokesman Cao Xianshao said that the governance team finally judged that the frequency of epilepsy seizures of "Tuantuan" has become higher and the medication can no longer be controlled. After clinical blood tests, it was found that the results of red blood cells , liver function indicators, etc. were relatively poor. It was estimated that "Tuantuan" may not be able to eat and live normally after waking up. From the perspective of animal welfare, we chose to let "Tuantuan" die in anesthesia and sleep.
He said that in the future, the pathological anatomy will be performed on individuals of "Tuantuan". If it is found to be a hereditary disease, you can pay attention to the conditions of "Yuanbao" and "Yuanzai" in advance.
Reprinted from: Xinhua News Agency (Reporter Qi Xianghui, Huang Yang)
Source: Workers' Daily
