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File photo of Bao Bao in 2005 Franka Bruns/AP/Press Association Images

Oldest known male panda dies in Germany

Bao Bao was given as a gift by China to West Germany’s chancellor in 1978.

THE BERLIN ZOO said Bao Bao, who was given to West Germany by China in 1980 and was one of the world’s oldest giant pandas, has died.

The zoo said the 34-year-old bear died early today in his enclosure after his health deteriorated over the last several months.

Bao Bao was born in 1978 in China and later given as a gift by then-Chinese leader Hua Guofeng to West Germany’s chancellor, Helmut Schmidt. Hua, Mao Zedong’s successor, also gave Germany female panda Tjen Tjen at the same time, but she died in 1984.

Bao Bao was loaned to London’s zoo between 1991 and 1993 as a potential — but ultimately unsuccessful — mate for its panda, Ming Ming.

The zoo says Bao Bao was the world’s oldest known male panda.

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5 Comments
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    Mute Joey Reilly
    Favourite Joey Reilly
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    Aug 22nd 2012, 5:27 PM

    RIP Panda

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    Mute Rodger O Waters
    Favourite Rodger O Waters
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    Aug 22nd 2012, 12:48 PM

    Ate shot and left.

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    Mute John O'Neill
    Favourite John O'Neill
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    Aug 22nd 2012, 3:30 PM

    I never thought that Chinese imports could last so long…

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    Mute Julie Oloughlin
    Favourite Julie Oloughlin
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 7:18 AM

    Ah the poor panda rip

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    Mute Catherine Hayward
    Favourite Catherine Hayward
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 8:18 AM

    Beautiful Panda r.i.p.

    1
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