Report on panda Lele's death matches autopsy

The final analysis of the giant panda Lele's death released on Thursday supports the initial autopsy findings which suggest cardiovascular disease was the main cause, according to the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens.

Lele, 25, passed away on Feb 1 at the US' Memphis Zoo, where he was being cared for. Following his death, a team of experts from China was dispatched to the zoo to conduct an autopsy in conjunction with American experts.

Pathological and pathogenic examinations were conducted on more than 70 samples.

The association said the next step will be to ensure the samples are properly quarantined and meet necessary biosafety standards before they can be used for scientific research.

In 2003 the female giant panda Yaya, who was born in the Beijing Zoo in 2000, and male giant panda Lele, born in the Shanghai Zoo in 1998, traveled to the Memphis Zoo in the US state of Tennessee as part of a Sino-US giant panda protection and research program.

In December, the Memphis Zoo announced it would return the two giant pandas to China, ending the 20-year lease period.

On Thursday afternoon, Lele's body and Yaya arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport from Memphis.