Giant panda Le Le dies after 20 years at Memphis Zoo
- The zoo’s president said Le Le’s peaceful death as he slept was ‘sudden and unexpected’ with no indication that he was sick
- The animal had been at the facility since 2003 and was expected to return to China soon with female panda Ya Ya
The panda, born on July 18, 1998, died on Wednesday, zoo spokesperson Rebecca Winchester said in an email. His cause of death has yet to be determined as a medical investigation is pending, the zoo said.
“Le Le’s name translates to ‘happy happy,’ and his name perfectly reflected his personality,” the zoo said in a statement.
“Le Le was a happy bear that enjoyed apples, engaging with enrichment and relaxing while covering himself with freshly shredded bamboo. He had an easy-going personality and was a favourite of all who met and worked with him over the years.”
Le Le’s peaceful death as he slept was “sudden and unexpected” with no indication that he was sick, zoo president and CEO Matt Thompson said at a news conference on Friday. Nothing in video footage from the days leading up to Le Le’s death indicated that there was anything wrong with him, he said.