Giant panda Lin Hui, the star attraction at Chiang Mai Zoo, died yesterday morning. She was 21 years old. The zoo is awaiting the arrival of Chinese experts to conduct a post-mortem to determine the exact cause of her death.
Chiang Mai Zoo director Wuthichai Muangman said he received a report from the zoo’s panda research team around 11am on Tuesday that Lin Hui developed a nosebleed.
He reported the symptoms to the Zoological Park Organisation and the China Wildlife Conservation Association in Beijing, which advised the zoo to consult with the Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Pandas in Chengdu.
The zoo also reported the condition of Lin Hui to the Chinese Consulate-General in Chiang Mai. Chinese officials were sent to the zoo and coordinated with panda experts in Chengdu via WeChat.
At about 1am yesterday, Lin Hui had a seizure. A team of veterinarians provided treatment by following advice from Chinese experts but at about 1.10am, the giant panda died peacefully, said the Chiang Mai Zoo director.
Lin Hui was born in China on Sept 28, 2001, at the Giant Panda Research and Conservation Centre in Chengdu. She was sent to Chiang Mai Zoo on Oct 12, 2003, as a goodwill ambassador between China and Thailand. She was an instant star attraction, with more than 7.4 million visitors visiting the zoo since October 2003 to see her and a male giant panda, Xuang Xuang, who died in 2019.