ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WWJ) – Ta-Shi, a 16-year-old red panda at the Detroit Zoo, has died.
The zoo announced Monday the panda, a longtime favorite of employees and the community, was euthanized Friday after living at the zoo for 13 years.
Ta-Shi experienced a “rapid decline in her health, which is likely attributable to cancer,” the Zoo said in a tweet.
“At an exam last week to try to identify the cause of recent weight loss, a large tumor was found in one of her lungs, as well as nonregenerative anemia (her body was no longer making new red blood cells),” the tweet said. “After medications to make her more comfortable did not seem to help, the difficult decision to humanely euthanize her was made.”
She was described as "a spunky panda who was adored by our staff, volunteers and visitors."
Ta-Shi was one of the oldest red pandas living in AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) zoos across the U.S., officials said. She was the third-oldest living red panda in North America, according to a story from the Detroit Free Press.
She gave birth to nine cubs during her time at the zoo and was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother to more than 20 pandas living today in AZA-accredited zoos, officials said.
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