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Reuters

When Chuang Chuang, a popular panda in a Thai zoo on loan from China, died suddenly in September, it caused an uproar among Chinese netizens, who demanded to know if the panda had died of neglect.
Chuang Chuang, a 19-year-old male panda, reportedly collapsed after eating bamboo in Chiang Mai Zoo, according to local media.
His death was jointly investigated by experts from Thailand and China, which completed the autopsy this week.
Chuang Chuang, who had been on loan from China since 2003 with female panda Lin Hui, had died from heart failure, according to a statement by the Chiang Mai Zoo.




His relatively early demise had sparked mourning among Thai fans and an outcry on Chinese social media, where a hashtag seeming to blame Thailand for the death was viewed 250 million times.
Pandas generally live from 14 to 20 years in the wild, but can live up to 30 years in captivity.
“You must take good care of our national treasures loaned to you, Thailand,” one social media user had written. “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.”
Chinese netizens slam Thai zoo over sudden death of beloved panda Chuang Chuang
Chiang Mai Zoo said any speculation that Chuang Chuang, who was known for being obese, may have died due to careless feeding, neglect or even some kind of attack had proved unfounded.
“The autopsy and analysis by Chinese-Thai experts showed that the nutrition health of giant panda Chuang Chuang was good, no external wounds were found and no foreign objects were found in his trachea,” the zoo said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The cause of his death was heart failure, resulting in the lack of oxygen of internal organs and leading to his death.”

The zoo confirmed that Thailand would nonetheless pay unspecified compensation to Beijing as outlined in the original loan agreement.
Chuang Chuang’s mate, Lin Hui, would stay at the zoo for the time being, it said.
Popular panda Chuang Chuang on loan from China dies in Thai zoo
The two pandas were celebrities in Thailand, with media extensively covering their love life – including a “wedding” ceremony in 2005.

Chuang Chuang famously was put on a diet in 2007 when the zoo was trying to encourage both pandas to conceive.
Chiang Mai Zoo even resorted to showing the couple “panda porn” videos of other pandas mating, but Lin Hui eventually conceived through artificial insemination.

After Lin Hui gave birth in 2009, their offspring was featured on a 24-hour “Panda Channel” shown on a Thai TV network. The offspring was eventually returned to China.
Baby pandas are rarely born in captivity.
Soon after Chuang Chuang’s death, footage of Lin Hui alone in her enclosure next to her mate’s empty pen was aired around the world, and a Chinese official said there was talk she may be returned to China amid concerns she would be lonely.
No decision on her future has been made, but the zoo said “in the meantime, Thailand will continue to take best care of the remaining panda Lin Hui”.
Additional reporting by The Guardian


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Thailand

Panda Chuang Chuang whose death outraged Chinese netizens died from heart failure, Thai zoo autopsy finds

Chuang Chuang died suddenly in September. Photo: EPA-EFE

epa07849908 (FILE) - Chinese giant male panda 'Chuang Chuang' enjoys various fruits to celebrate his 10th birthday at Chiang Mai Zoo, Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, 06 August 2010 (reissued 18 September 2019). According to media reports on 17 September, Chuang Chuang died in Chiang Mai Zoo at the age of 19. Chuang Chuang was on loan from China since 2003 as part of a panda research program. EPA-EFE/PONGMANAT TASIRI

FILE PHOTO: Giant pandas Lin Hui and Chuang Chuang play with an ice cake at Chiang Mai Zoo, Thailand, November 9, 2005. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang/File Photo

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.

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

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/--

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Chuang Chuang, who had been on loan from China since 2003 with female panda Lin Hui, died from heart failure, the zoo said
Chiang Mai Zoo said Thailand would nonetheless pay unspecified compensation to China as outlined in the original loan agreement



Chuang Chuang, who had been on loan from China since 2003, died from heart failure, according to an investigation carried out by Thai and Chinese experts.


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Panda Chuang Chuang whose death outraged Chinese netizens died from heart failure, Thai zoo autopsy finds

Chuang Chuang, who had been on loan from China since 2003 with female panda Lin Hui, died from heart failure, the zoo said Chiang Mai Zoo said Thailand would nonetheless pay unspecified compensation to China as outlined in the original loan agreement

Chuang Chuang, who had been on loan from China since 2003 with female panda Lin Hui, died from heart failure, the zoo said

Chiang Mai Zoo said Thailand would nonetheless pay unspecified compensation to China as outlined in the original loan agreement