An, the world’s oldest captive giant panda, died on Thursday at the age of 35, according to the Hong Kong Zoo, where the animal spent most of its life.
An An’s health had deteriorated in recent weeks. His physical activity and appetite had plummeted and he was euthanized by vets Thursday morning, according to a statement from the Ocean Park Zoo and Amusement Park.
The panda’s age is the equivalent of a human age of 105, the park said, and “the difficult decision to euthanize it was made for animal welfare concerns in consultation with Chinese experts.”
Born into the wild in the mainland province of Sichuan, An An was one of two pandas gifted to Hong Kong by Beijing to celebrate the second anniversary of the city’s handover from Britain in 1999.
He and his partner Jia Jia spent the rest of their lives in Ocean Park. They were a worthy couple – Jia Jia held the Guinness World Records for oldest living panda and oldest living panda in captivity when he died in 2016 at the age of 38.
According to the species protection organization WWF, the average life expectancy of a panda in the wild is 14 to 20 years.
After Jia Jia’s death, his surviving companion led a rather lonely life – in 2021 he celebrated his 35th birthday alone with a cake topped with fruit and bamboo, surrounded by several birthday cards handmade by park staff.
Pandas are a diplomatic gift of choice from Beijing.
When they arrived in Hong Kong, the city’s then chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, said their names inspired Hong Kong to be stable (An) and prosperous (Jia).
And when news of An An’s loss of appetite broke last week, current CEO John Lee called Ocean Park to express his concern.
Pandas have trouble reproducing, especially in captivity. They are listed as “Vulnerable” by the WWF, with 1,864 individuals living in the wild.