Japan's Only Giant Panda Dies of Old Age

April 30, 2008 -- Ling Ling, the only giant panda owned by Japan, died of old age Wednesday at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo, where he had been one of the most popular attractions, officials said.

Visitors to the zoo pressed their hands together in prayer on learning the news and placed flowers on a makeshift altar.

Officials said the zoo would open Ling Ling's enclosure to mourners after decorating it with flowers and bamboo.

"Ling Ling was a representative of our zoo," said zookeeper Motoyasu Ida.

"He died peacefully. I think he lived a full life."

Ling Ling's death comes just days before Chinese President Hu Jintao is set to pay a landmark visit to Tokyo during which zoo officials are hoping for an agreement that will bring another panda to Japan.

"We strongly hope that his successor will come to our zoo from China and that some positive message would come during the Chinese president's visit," Ida said.

He said that at 22 years and seven months old, Ling Ling had been the equivalent age of a 70-year-old human.

The animal died a day after the zoo stopped public viewing as Ling Ling had suffered heart and kidney malfunction due to old age.

He was the only giant panda belonging to Japan. Another eight pandas are in Japan but all are leased by Chinese authorities.