World’s Oldest Male Giant Panda Dies at 35
Summary Checklist:
An An’s Age: 35 years old (equivalent to 105 human years)
Residence: Ocean Park, Hong Kong
Health Conditions: High blood pressure, loss of appetite, reduced activity
Decision: Euthanized to prevent further suffering
Companion: Jia Jia (died at 38, the oldest female panda)
China’s Panda Diplomacy: Used as a symbol of goodwill through panda gifting and leasing
Oldest Male Giant Panda in Captivity The world’s oldest-ever male giant panda in captivity, An An, has passed away at the age of 35. His health had been deteriorating at Ocean Park in Hong Kong, where he spent the majority of his life. An An and a female panda, Jia Jia, were gifted to Hong Kong by China in 1999. Jia Jia, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 38, holds the record as the oldest female panda in captivity.
Beloved Member of Ocean Park Ocean Park, where An An resided, mourned his passing, referring to him as a cherished member of their family. He had developed close bonds with both visitors and staff. Paulo Pong, chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, reflected on An An’s legacy, stating, “An An has brought us fond memories with numerous heart-warming moments. His cleverness and playfulness will be dearly missed.”
An An’s Health Struggles
Geriatric Panda Care In recent years, An An had been suffering from high blood pressure, a common condition among aging pandas. His health had taken a turn for the worse over the last three weeks, during which he was kept out of the public eye. He became less active and stopped eating solid food, indicating the severity of his condition.
Euthanasia to Prevent Suffering Hundreds of well-wishers commented on Ocean Park’s social media post, hoping for An An’s recovery. However, veterinarians, in consultation with the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, decided to euthanize him to prevent further suffering.
An An’s Legacy and Panda Diplomacy
Longevity and Legacy An An lived a long and full life, reaching the impressive age of 35, equivalent to 105 human years. Hong Kong also received a second panda pair, Ying Ying and Le Le, in 2007, marking the 10th anniversary of the city’s return to China.
Panda Diplomacy China often engages in “panda diplomacy,” gifting or leasing pandas to other countries as a symbol of goodwill. These iconic animals, found only in China, serve as ambassadors of friendship and cooperation.