< Go back
Ko Ko dies while under anesthetics for artificial insemination
Posted by Jeroen Jacobs | Date: 2010 09 09 | In:
Kobe Oji Zoo
Ko Ko died at the Kobe Oji Zoo on September 9, 2010. He died of cardiac arrest after failing to recover from a semen-extraction procedure conducted as part of a program to impregnate his partner, Tan Tan. It happened three hours after he was given an anesthetic.
A Chinese investigative team will be sent to Japan this week to probe the unexpected death of Ko Ko. Chinese experts suspect a heavy handed dose of sedatives could have contributed to Ko Ko’s death and wonder why the Japanese practiced such a procedure during the animal’s off-mating period. The breeding agreement forged between the two countries includes a stipulation for $500,000 in compensation in the event of a panda death, citing the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
Share this Post:
