2-year-old panda dies in Chengdu

Bao Xin, a 2-year-old male panda at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan province, died recently with acute pancreatitis.

According to a notice from the base in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu, the panda first showed clinical symptoms, including drowsiness, food refusal and poor spirit, on March 3.

A medical team immediately took steps to diagnose and treat the animal and organized a multidisciplinary expert joint consultation.

Blood and biochemical tests and imaging examinations, such as computer tomography and ultrasound, indicated that the panda was suffering from acute pancreatitis.

Despite more than 10 days of round-the-clock intensive care and treatment, the panda died on March 14 after multiple organ failures, the notice said.

The health of Bao Xin was the subject of online buzz the day before the base announced the animal's death. Some netizens had noticed that the panda had not been seen for a while. That led to media inquiries.