Ling Ling passes away: 30-04-2008
For those hoping to catch a glimpse of Ling Ling, the famous giant panda in Ueno Zoo in Japan, will be disappointed after the 22-year-old died today (Wednesday).
The most popular resident of the zoo in Tokyo passed away after 22 years and seven months.
He arrived in Japan in 1992 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of normalised relations between Japan and China and was a gift from the Beijing Zoo where he was born.
A panda born in Japan went the other way as a replacement for the male who, according to the Jiji Press news agency, was the equivalent to 80 to 90 years old in human terms.
According to the DPA, Japan has eight pandas leased form China although the deceased Ling Ling was the only giant panda owned by Japan.
Aside from visiting the zoo, travellers taking a trip to Japan's capital can visit the Ueno Park, The area is great for people looking to embrace Japanese culture as it has three museums as well as the popular zoo.