According to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda on April 15, the male giant panda “Lu Lu” has passed away. Lu Lu was rescued from the wild in Lushan County, Ya’an City, in 1999, and has since been under the care of the Panda Center. On April 4, 2025, he sadly died despite emergency medical efforts due to illness.
Lu Lu was a beloved panda, deeply cherished by the public. In his senior years, the Panda Center developed a customized care and wellness plan for him. To address the depigmentation around his nose and eyes, the center increased his activity levels and provided additional trace elements and vitamins as part of his treatment.
In recent times, Lu Lu had shown signs of lethargy and poor appetite. In response, the Panda Center collaborated multiple times with leading veterinary experts to develop medical plans and implement various treatments. Unfortunately, none succeeded in prolonging his life.
At 11:15 a.m. on April 4, Lu Lu succumbed to multiple organ failure involving his kidneys and lungs, caused by a diffuse abdominal infection resulting from intestinal perforation, massive ascites, and extensive intestinal necrosis. He left us forever.
The Panda Center explained that intestinal perforation is an acute condition involving a rupture in the intestinal wall, allowing its contents to leak into the abdominal cavity. This can lead to severe complications like peritonitis and septic shock. The condition is typically triggered by ulcers, inflammation, obstructions, or trauma, and is more common in elderly pandas or those with chronic diseases.
As bamboo—rich in coarse, tough fibers—is the main food source for pandas, these fibers can damage or even pierce weakened or diseased intestinal walls. Therefore, early detection of symptoms is crucial. Once intestinal perforation occurs, immediate surgery is necessary.
However, pandas have a remarkably high pain tolerance, significantly higher than most mammals. As a result, signs of pain are often well hidden, making early detection particularly difficult. Typically, it isn’t until the condition worsens and severe peritonitis sets in that the problem becomes apparent. By then, treatment becomes more complicated, and the fatality rate is high.