Wild panda dies in southwest China

A wild giant panda in southwest China has died days after being found with severe injuries possibly from an attack by a group of martens.

The 3-year-old panda was found hiding and moaning in a cave near a patrol station in the Tangjiahe Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province on Nov. 17.

The panda sustained severe injuries to its stomach, exposing its intestines. The injury was likely caused by several yellow-throated martens, said Chen Limin, an official at the nature reserve.

The panda's condition deteriorated soon and it was sent to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for further treatment on Nov. 20, said the provincial forestry bureau.

The panda then was very weak and on the verge of a shock and so the base decided to carry out conservative treatment rather than surgery operation.

The panda fell into comas several times as of Nov. 21 and died Tuesday noon after emergency treatment failed, a source with the research base said.

An autopsy report showed that the panda died from intestinal necrosis, septicemia, serious liver damage and severe malnutrition.

Giant pandas are one of the world's most endangered species. About 1,600 live in the wild, mostly in the mountains of Sichuan, while more than 300 live in captivity.