Tan Tan oldest giant panda in Japan dies at age of 28

Tan Tan, the oldest giant panda in Japan, has died at the age of 28, the Kobe zoo announced on Monday.

The animal contributed to friendly relations between Japan and China, emphasises the Kyodo agency.

The zoo administration announced that the cause of the panda's death was a heart attack that occurred on the night from Sunday to Monday. In human terms, Tan Tan was approximately 80 to 100 years old.

She came to the Kobe Zoo from China in 2000 for reproductive purposes and was supposed to return to the country 20 years later. But her return was delayed — first because of the pandemic, then because of treatment for heart problems.

Due to Tan Tan's poor health, zoo visitors have not been able to see her since 2022. Since last fall, she no longer had much energy and spent most of her time resting.

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The zoo authorities plan to designate a place for laying flowers in memory of the nice panda, and a farewell ceremony is also being considered, the agency reports.

This article was originally published on Onet Travel.