For use with Chapter 28
What Is an Animal?
The Death of a Legend
Posted on December 1,1999
In 1972, a legend was brought to the United States. To commemorate
President Richard Nixon's visit to China that year, the Chinese government
gave two giant pandas to the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
The two pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, became a symbol of peace between
the United States and China.
Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing were a huge hit at the zoo, bringing in millions
of visitors each year to see them. The two pandas mated several times, and
Ling-Ling gave birth to five offspring. However, none of them lived more
than a few days.
In 1992, Ling-Ling herself died of heart failure. She was 23 years old.
Hsing-Hsing lived on, but started having serious kidney problems over the
past year. He lost his battle on November 28, 1999. He was 28. In the
wild, pandas generally live to about 15, but they can live into their 20s
in captivity, so both animals had long lives for their species.
With Hsing-Hsing gone, there are only five pandas left in U.S. zoos. Only
120 of these animals are in captivity throughout the rest of the world.
Their numbers in the wild are small as well. It is thought that only 1000
pandas live in their native land of China.
The United States continues to try to bring more pandas into its zoos. In
November 1999, two cubs were brought from China to Atlanta, but this is
temporary. These two pandas are on loan for 10 years, at a cost of $1
million each year. The other three pandas in the United States are at the
San Diego zoo.
Although Hsing-Hsing had an extremely long life for a panda, he will be
missed by zoo officials and the public.
Activity
Use the Internet to research giant pandas. Discover their habitat, their
diet, and why they are endangered. Use this information to develop an
information kit to teach others about these magnificent creatures.
References
National Zoo's Giant Panda Hsing-Hsing Dies.http://cnn.com/NATURE/9911/28/panda.dies.02/index.html
WWF: Pandas. http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/species.cfm?sectionid=95&newspaperid=21
Everything You Need to Know About the Giant Panda. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/9492/entry.html
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