Japan’s oldest giant panda dies

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Japan’s oldest giant panda, Ling Ling, a longtime star at Tokyo’s largest zoo and a symbol of friendship with China, died today of heart failure, zookeepers told the Associated Press.

Fukuji Sugimoto, chief panda-keeper at the zoo, described what he found when he entered Ling Ling’s cage early today:

‘He always turned around when I called ‘Ling Ling.’ This morning he didn’t. I rushed to him and touched his head, and he was already cold. That broke my heart,’ Sugimoto said. ‘He was such a darling.’

Ling Ling was 22 years and 7 months old, equivalent to about 70 human years, the Ueno Zoo said in a statement. Ling Ling, pictured here, was the fifth-oldest known male panda in the world.

Keepers and visitors mourned the panda, which was the zoo’s most popular attraction for more than 15 years. Public broadcaster NHK showed many visitors writing condolences, with some brushing away tears. Ling Ling’s portrait was displayed inside his cage, along with bouquets and offerings of his favorite bamboo shoots.

To see a photo gallery on Ling Ling, click here.

-- Francisco Vara-Orta