Giant panda Hua Hua's mother dies at 23

(ECNS) -- Cheng Gong (or Success), an elderly female giant panda at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base passed away on Sunday morning in her enclosure at the age of 23, roughly equivalent to a human age of 70-80 years.

Night shift caregivers observed that the panda was in good condition on Saturday evening. "Success" was found lying on her left side in a relaxed posture, surrounded by a large quantity of bamboo shoots that had been left over from the previous night's meal. No unusual circumstances were recorded within the enclosure.

Cheng Gong, an elderly female giant panda at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. (File photo/ Screenshot from video)

The panda base collaborated with provincial pathologists and veterinary experts on Sunday afternoon to conduct a comprehensive evaluation.

In the recent past, Cheng Gong had been eating bamboo shoots and bread as usual, and her feces and weight were normal.

Cheng Gong was known for her obsession with cleanliness. She was the mother of Hua Hua, a female giant panda at the research base who has captivated the hearts of people around the world thanks to her mild temperament.