wpostServer: http://css.washingtonpost.com/wpost
Giant panda cub at the National Zoo had lung problem that led to liver failure, death Liver failure caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen caused the death of the giant panda cub last month at the National Zoo.
Oct. 11, 2012
Mei Xiang, the female giant panda that lost its baby last month, takes a nap after being fed a frozen fruit treat at the National Zoo. Chief veterinarian Suzan Murray said a necropsy showed the tiny cub’s lungs were not fully formed. That impeded the flow of oxygen, leading to liver necrosis, or the death of liver cells.
Astrid Riecken
/
For The Washington Post
Related Content
Oct. 11, 2012
Tian Tian, the father of the giant panda cub that died, eats a frozen fruit treat at the National Zoo. Officials said the cub had no sign of internal or external trauma.
Astrid Riecken
/
For The Washington Post
Oct. 11, 2012
Tian Tian rubs his back against a tree after feeding on some bamboo at the National Zoo.
Astrid Riecken
/
For The Washington Post
Oct. 11, 2012
Tian Tian looks for food at the National Zoo.
Astrid Riecken
/
For The Washington Post
Sept. 24, 2012
Smithsonian National Zoological Park chief veterinarian Suzan Murray and zoo Director Dennis Kelly hold a press conference the day after the death of a week-old giant panda bear cub at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The preliminary necropsy of the female cub did not immediately reveal the cause of death, but Murray said the initial exam made it appear the cub was not crushed by her mother.
Chip Somodevilla
/
Getty Images
Sept. 24, 2012
Tian Tian, the 275-pound male giant panda at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, moves around in his outdoor enclosure the day after the death of a six-day-old panda cub at the zoo.
Chip Somodevilla
/
Getty Images
Sept. 23, 2012
Dennis W. Kelly, director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo, and Suzan Murray, the zoo's chief veterinarian, talk about the sudden death of a panda cub during a press conference at the National Zoo in Washington. The giant panda cub died suddenly that morning, and zoo officials had not yet determined the cause.
Dayna Smith
/
For The Washington Post
Sept. 23, 2012
National Zoo visitors Melani Hom and Joe Robinson, both of the District, listen as zoo officials announce the death of a panda cub.
Dayna Smith
/
For The Washington Post
Sept. 23, 2012
Jennifer Melchishua, of Forestville, Md., watches as her son Malcolm, 5, plays on a panda statue at the National Zoo.
Dayna Smith
/
For The Washington Post
Sept. 23, 2012
Visitors to Smithsonian's National Zoo look at the giant panda exhibit after the sudden death of a panda cub at the National Zoo.
Mark Wilson
/
Getty Images
Sept. 23, 2012
Smithsonian National Zoo worker Alison Venable works at a booth near the giant panda exhibit after the sudden death of a panda cub at the National Zoo.
Mark Wilson
/
Getty Images
Sept. 17, 2012
Closed signs were posted at the panda exhibit at the National Zoo in Washington the day after it was announced that the zoo’s female giant panda gave birth to a cub.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais
/
AP
Sept. 17, 2012
Children climb and lean against the handrail of the closed panda exhibit at the National Zoo in Washington.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais
/
AP
Dec. 19, 2011
Mei Xiang is the National Zoo's 13-year-old female giant panda.
Sarah L. Voisin
/
The Washington Post
Dec. 19, 2011
David Rubenstein, center, spoke with the media about his $4.5 million donation to the Smithsonian National Zoo's giant panda program.
Sarah L. Voisin
/
The Washington Post
Dec. 19, 2011
Mei Xiang has not produced a cub in five years.
Sarah L. Voisin
/
The Washington Post
Dec. 19, 2011
David Rubenstein, right, shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui.
Sarah L. Voisin
/
The Washington Post
Dec. 19, 2011
This year, the zoo reached a new lease agreement with China that extends the stay of its two giant pandas — Mei Xiang (shown here) and Tian Tian — for five years.
Sarah L. Voisin
/
The Washington Post
Dec. 19, 2011
Giant pandas are native to China, and the Chinese own and lease all giant pandas held at U.S. zoos.
Sarah L. Voisin
/
The Washington Post
Dec. 19, 2011
The National Zoo will give Mei Xiang (shown here) and Tian Tian until 2012 to produce a cub.
Sarah L. Voisin
/
The Washington Post
Dec. 19, 2011
The zoo's only giant panda pregnancy resulted in the 2005 birth, via artificial insemination, of Tai Shan, who was sent to a breeding program in China last year. Shown here is Mei Xiang.
Sarah L. Voisin
/
The Washington Post
June 1, 2011
Giant panda Mei Xiang was closely monitored this summer in case she was pregnant. But as in other recent years, there was no pregnancy. Despite intensive efforts, the National Zoo has not produced a cub since 2005.
Matt McClain
/
For The Washington Post
June 1, 2011
The National Zoo's male giant panda, Tian Tian, wanders through his enclosure. The zoo reached a new lease agreement with China this year that extends the stay of Tian Tian and Mei Xiang for five more years.
Matt McClain
/
For The Washington Post
June 1, 2011
Mei Xiang takes a nap at the zoo. Meanwhile, zoo officials are dreaming of another panda pregnancy.
Matt McClain
/
For The Washington Post
July 9, 2009
Tian Tian eats bamboo at the National Zoo. Philanthropist David M. Rubenstein gave the zoo a $4.5 million gift on Dec. 19 for the pandas after hearing it was having trouble raising money to pay for their costs, including $500,000 the zoo pays China annually to lease them.
Karen Bleier
/
AFP/Getty Images
May 20, 2009
Mei Xiang panda feasts on bamboo at the zoo. Mei Xiang has not been pregnant since giving birth to Tai Shan in 2005, and recent science suggests that if a female giant panda has not become pregnant for several years, it is unlikely that she will be able to do so.
Ricky Carioti
/
The Washington Post
March 29, 2006
Tai Shan, the National Zoo's giant panda cub, cuddles with mother Mei Xiang at the National Zoo. Tai Shan was born July 9, 2005, and is Mei Xiang and Tian Tian's only offspring.
Jahi Chikwendiu
/
The Washington Post
Dec. 22, 2005
Panda cub Tai Shan began life with his parents at the National Zoo but has since been returned to China.
Jessie Cohen
/
AFP/Getty Images
Dec. 22, 2005
Tai Shan, shown as a 5-month-old cub, is the only panda born at the National Zoo to survive more than a few days.
Jessie Cohen
/
AFP/Getty Images
Dec. 6, 2007
Tian Tian, front, and Mei Xiang wrestle and play in the Washington's first snow of the season. Giant pandas are native to central China, where snow is common in the winter, allowing Tian Tian and Mei Xiang to feel right at home when snow starts to fall.
Jessie Cohen
/
Smithsonian National Zoo
FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES
MLB power rankings
Barry Svrluga assesses the best teams in Major League Baseball through Thursday.
Photos of the day
Buddhist Wesak festival, prisoners-of-war reunion, bridge collapse, world’s largest Lego model and more.
Flexing their muscles
Dozens of bodybuilders came out to Silver Spring to compete in the 2013 Musclemania Capital Tournament of Champions.
???initialComments:true! pubdate:12/19/2011 03:05 EST! commentPeriod:14! commentEndDate:1/2/12 3:5 EST! currentDate:5/25/13 8:0 EDT! allowComments:false! displayComments:true!
Section:/local
Loading...
Comments