The oldest captive panda in the world has died.
At 37, Basi was over 100 in human years when she died naturally on Thursday. “With a heavy heart, we solemnly announce today that giant panda star Basi died at 8:50am,” read a statement from the Straits Giant Panda Research and Exchange Centre in Fuzhou.
Basi has lived at the panda facility since she was rescued as a four year old. She was named after the valley she was found in, and has outlived all of her fellow pandas.
A public memorial was held in Basi’s honour. “She was an angel of friendship both at home and abroad,” the Straits Giant Panda Research and Exchange Centre statement ended.