The resident Chiang Mai Zoo giant panda, Chuang Chuang, has died aged 19. The Chiang Mai zoo director made the announcement yesterday. Chuang Chuang was also known as Thewan in Thai and as Kham Ai in the indigenous Lanna language.
Chuang Chuang and a female giant panda Lin Hui left their hometown, southwest China’s Sichuan Province for Chiang Mai in 2003 and they had been living in the zoo since.
Both giant pandas enjoy great popularity in Thailand and many Thais mourn for Chuang Chuang’s passing on social media after they heard the news on Monday with posts such as “Rest in peace, Chuang Chuang, you will be missed,” “Thank you for bringing all those happiness to Thailand, Chuang Chuang.”
