The oldest panda in the world, 37-year-old Basi, has passed away, her caretakers in the southeastern province of Fuzhou announced, according to the BBC.
Basi reached the equivalent of one hundred human years.
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Giant pandas in China are considered symbols, and significant investments are made in their protection. They are no longer endangered after decades of conservation efforts.
Basi was named after the valley where she was rescued and lived in the sanctuary since she was four or five years old.
State television broadcast a live memorial from the sanctuary on Thursday, which was open to the public.
– With a heavy heart, we announce today that the giant panda and star Basi passed away at 8:50 AM at the age of 37, said a representative of the panda research center in Fuzhou.
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The panda was an inspiration for the mascot of the first Asian Games in 1990.
– She was an angel of friendship both at home and abroad, he said.
