Symbol of goodwill, China’s gift to Taiwan, beloved panda Tuan Tuan dies

Tuan Tuan, one of the two giant pandas gifted by China to Taiwan, died on Saturday after a brief illness. Read to know about the beloved panda.  

Giant panda Tuan Tuan no more

Tuan Tuan, a giant panda, breathed its last on Saturday. According to the Taipei Zoo, “brief illness” was the cause of the death. However, while medical reports did not shed additional light on the death, previous reports indicate the presence of a malignant brain tumor. Following the detection, two medical specialists flew from China to Taiwan to assist. Taiwanese press revealed Tuan Tuan did not respond to treatment and was in an induced coma following several seizures. 

Giant pandas are endemic to southern China and have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years in the wild. Tuan Tuan has lived for 30 years with the help of human and medical assistance. Currently, about 1,800 are estimated to be living in the wild and about 500 are living in reserves and zoos. 

More on China’s gift of goodwill 

Ties between the two nations deteriorated following the civil war in 1949. However, 2008 was a turning point as Tuan Tuan and his mate were gifted by China to the Taiwanese zoo. The pandas were born in 2004 in China. They gave birth to a pair of cubs in the Taiwanese zoo. China sends giant pandas overseas as a gift of goodwill. However, it retains the ownership of the animal and its offspring.

Since the arrival of Tuan Tuan and his mate, the relations between the two have deteriorated again. Currently, China and Taiwan relations are very tense with Taiwan standing with its independence entitlement. However, Beijing is claiming the nation as a part of its territory. Additionally, China is conducting several military drills in the region after a visit to the island nation by Nancy Pelosi, the US House speaker.

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