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The Guardian

Reuters

The unexpected death of a giant panda on loan to a zoo in Thailand has sparked outrage in China and calls for no more of the animals to be lent to the country.
Chuang Chuang, a 19-year-old male, reportedly collapsed on Monday afternoon after eating bamboo in Chiang Mai Zoo in northern Thailand, according to local media.
While the death will be investigated on Thursday by experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, the news has not placated Chinese social media.
Chuang Chuang’s demise caused a stir in his native China, where a hashtag about the death drew 250 million views on social media platform Sina Weibo.
If you can’t take care of our national treasures, don’t borrow them
A Chinese social media user
Many in the online community say they still have questions about Chuang Chuang’s death and the quality of food and facilities at the Chiang Mai zoo.
One user wrote: “Please don’t rent any more pandas to Thailand! No! Chuang Chuang is probably the most bitter panda in the world! What kind of bamboo he was given to eat? If you can’t afford [a panda], don’t rent it.”

“You must take good care of our national treasures loaned to you, Thailand,” another user wrote. “Now Chuang Chuang is gone. It’s no use saying anything. If you can’t take care of our national treasures, don’t borrow them. I’m so sad.”
Many questioned China’s programme of loaning its endangered giant pandas abroad, part of its “panda diplomacy” in which zoos outside of China pay millions to host the animals.
Chuang Chuang had been on loan to the Chiang Mai zoo since 2003, along with his mate, Lin Hui.
Photos on Wednesday showed Thai mourners and zoo staff laying flowers near the empty enclosure of Chuang Chuang at the Chiang Mai Zoo.
As Germany debates panda names, here’s how cubs get named
“We loved and nurtured him so much. I hope everyone will miss him like we do,” said zookeeper Kannikar Chantarangsi on Tuesday.
The cause of death has not been released. Pandas generally live 14-20 years in the wild but can live up to 20 years in captivity, according to the WWF animal welfare organisation.
A statement from China’s consulate in Chiang Mai from Monday said experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda had been dispatched.
Chuang Chuang and his partner Lin Hui – now Thailand’s only remaining panda – were celebrities in Thailand after Lin Hui gave birth in 2009. Baby pandas are rarely born in captivity and the animal was eventually returned to China.

Lin Hui conceived through artificial insemination after Chuang Chuang failed to impregnate her, despite being shown videos dubbed “panda porn” meant to encourage them to mate.
Pandas are famously difficult to breed in captivity.
The pair have been on loan to Thailand since 2003.
They were “married” in November 2005 at a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony overseen by a Chinese diplomat to mark the zoo’s 28th birthday.


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Thailand

Chinese netizens slam Thai zoo over sudden death of popular panda Chuang Chuang

Chuang Chuang was on loan from China at the Chiang Mai Zoo. Photo: EPA-EFE

Zoo workers lay flowers at a Panda statue days after the 19-year-old panda Chuang Chuang died at the Chiang Mai zoo, Chiang Mai, Thailand, September 18, 2019. Dailynews/ via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. THAILAND OUT.

File- In this Nov. 2003. file photo, the two giant pandas Chuang Chuang, left, and Lin Hui, are seen in their cage in the Chiang Mai Zoo in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand. Officials said Chuang Chuang collapsed Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in his enclosure at the Chiang Mai Zoo shortly after standing up following a meal of bamboo leaves. (AP Photo/Wichhai Tapeiru. file)

Popular panda Chuang Chuang on loan from China dies in Thai zoo

Chuang Chuang was the star of his own 24-hour TV channel in Thailand for a few years. Photo: AFP

CORRECTED BYLINE STRINGER A Chiang- Mai zoo officer tries to get a carrot that fell down when three-year-old male panda named Chuang Chuang or Kum- Ai in Thai reached out for him during a presentation for the media at Chiang- Mai zoo, Saturday 08 November 2003. A couple of panda bears, a male and a female, were sent from China as animal ambassadors and the zoo will present them to the plubic on 18 November 2003. EPA/--

Calls to name Berlin zoo’s panda cubs ‘Hong and Kong’ spark German national debate on China

Panda Meng-Meng looks at one of her newborn twin cubs at Berlin Zoo, Germany. Photo: Reuters

Male giant panda Jiao Qing is pictured in his enclosure at the Zoologischer Garten zoo in Berlin on September 2, 2019. - Jiao Qing became a father. As the zoo announced on September 2, 2019, its resident panda Meng Meng had delivered twins on August 31, 2019. On loan from China, Meng Meng and male panda Jiao Qing arrived in Berlin in June 2017 to great fanfare. While the cubs are born in Berlin, they remain Chinese and must be returned to China within four years after they have been weaned. (Photo by Paul Zinken / dpa / AFP) / Germany OUT

epa07816584 An undated handout picture made available by Zoo Berlin on 04 September 2019 shows a panda cub being bottle-fed in Berlin, Germany. According to Zoo Berlin, mother Meng Meng gave birth to the pandas on 31 August 2019. The two cubs are the first Pandas born in Germany. EPA-EFE/ZOO BERLIN / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

(FILES) This file photo taken on July 5, 2017 shows China's President Xi Jinping (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel standing in front of the enclosure of Meng Meng, one of two giant pandas arrived at the zoo, during the panda welcoming ceremony at the Zoologischer Garten zoo in Berlin. - Berlin's Zoologischer Garten zoo said on September 2, 2019 its resident panda Meng Meng had delivered twins, as it voiced delight at the first such births in the country. (Photo by AXEL SCHMIDT / POOL / AFP)

Berlin zoo to keep politics out of panda names after public picks Hong and Kong

A German newspaper poll to suggest names for Meng Meng and Jiao Qing’s cubs came up with Hong and Kong, names a panda conservationist says are not appropriate. Photo: Xinhua

epa07821836 An undated handout picture made available by Zoo Berlin on 06 September 2019 shows female giant panda Meng Meng taking care of one of her two newborn panda twins at the zoo in Berlin, Germany. According to the zoo, the two baby pandas were born by mother Meng Meng on 31 August 2019. The cubs are the first Pandas to be born in Germany. EPA-EFE/ZOO BERLIN HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

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Asia

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Chuang Chuang’s demise caused a stir in his native China, where a hashtag about the death drew over 250 million views on social media platform Weibo



Chuang Chuang’s unexpected demise caused a stir in his native China, where a hashtag about the death drew 250 million views on social media site Weibo.


Pandas

Conservation

Diplomacy

Social media

Chinese netizens slam Thai zoo over sudden death of popular panda Chuang Chuang

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Chuang Chuang’s demise caused a stir in his native China, where a hashtag about the death drew over 250 million views on social media platform Weibo

Chuang Chuang’s demise caused a stir in his native China, where a hashtag about the death drew over 250 million views on social media platform Weibo