panda diplomacy

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A Famously Old Giant Panda Is Euthanized

At 35, An An was oldest male panda in captivity

(Newser) - The oldest-ever male giant panda in captivity has died at age 35 at a Hong Kong theme park after his health deteriorated. An An lived most of his life at Ocean Park after he and a female panda were gifted to Hong Kong by China in 1999, reports the AP...

Long Awaited Panda Cub Born in Taiwan

Female born to Yuan Yuan, a gift from China

(Newser) - A onetime gift from China to Taiwan is multiplying: Yuan Yuan , a 9-year-old female giant panda, gave birth to a female cub last night, reports the Global Times . She had been artificially inseminated in March, the seventh time in three years, and the unnamed female cub is her first. Beijing...

China-Japan Relations Strained By ...Dead Panda?

Japan over-anesthesized China's male days after fishing boat incident

(Newser) - The death of a panda is worsening already-strained diplomatic relations between China and Japan. China loaned Xing Xing, a 14-year-old male, to a Japanese zoo, and he died last week after being anesthetized so zoo workers could collect his sperm for use in artificial insemination. Chinese officials believe the animal...

Tai Shan Turns 4
 Tai Shan Turns 4  
birthday slideshow
Jul 9, 2009 4:05 PM CDT

Tai Shan Turns 4

(Newser) - Tai Shan, the giant panda who captivated the world as a cub, turned 4 today and celebrated with a huge birthday cake only an animal could love. The three-tiered concoction was a frozen medley of water, beet juice, shredded beets, and bamboo, WTOP reports. Tai Shan, who is now considered...

China Dispatches Furry Ambassadors to Taiwan

Bears names—Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan—spell "reunification"

(Newser) - China is sending a pair of pandas to Taiwan today, a peace offering that’s been in the making for 4 years, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The nations, not known for being warm or cuddly toward each other, appear to be making amends. Last week, after a 60-year stalemate,...

Japan Balks at $1M Panda Price Tag

Tokyo may reject Chinese offer

(Newser) - Hu Jintao is making the first visit to Japan by a Chinese president in 10 years, and he's looking to solidify the newly amicable relationship with an offering of two giant pandas. But the rare animals aren't a gift, exactly: they're a loan, and they come at a yearly cost...

6 Stories