Panda births are truly a wonder of nature. Just as we celebrate the news of Lun Lun at Zoo Atlanta getting ready to give birth, we see that the panda born in Japan has just passed away. Only days old, it just wasn't meant to be. There is so much to learn still and the work of keeping Giant Pandas from becoming extinct is still as critical as ever.
Giant Panda, Dan Dan had a cub on August 27, 2008, the first in 20 years for Japan, by artificial insemination. "I feel relieved the baby was born safely," said the head of Oji Zoo, Osamu Ishikawa. But it was not to be as the zoo reported Friday afternoon. "Zoo officials and veterinarians were monitoring it 24 hours a day, but it ended with a sad result," the zoo said on its website"
My condolences to the Oji Zoo, I know this must be difficult for them. Photos of Dan Dan and the male, Zing Zing below.
