Young giant panda Qing Ci dies from rare intestinal disorder

File image of giant panda Qing Ci. (Photo from the WeChat China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda)

(ECNS) -- Giant panda Qing Ci died on March 23 due to a rare complication of intestinal intussusception, the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda said on Wednesday.

Qing Ci, a female giant panda, was born at the center's Hetaoping base in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on June 21, 2022.

The panda was diagnosed with an intestinal obstruction on March 2 this year. The center invited experts from West China Hospital and conducted surgery for it on March 5.

Qing Ci experienced a sudden intussusception during recovery, leading to a secondary obstruction.

Emergency surgery was performed on March 17, and the necrotic intestinal segment was successfully removed.

However, despite the care provided by the expert team around the clock, the panda failed to survive.

Intestinal intussusception in giant pandas is a dangerous abdominal emergency with a very short time for intervention.

Qing Ci was the first case of the disorder discovered at the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in recent years.