Jia Jia, a name that has flashed all of our screens multiple times today was not only the oldest living Panda in captivity but was more like family to the Hong Kong Ocean Park’s keepers where she has been living for the past 17 years. Jia Jia, whose name means "good", had been gifted to Hong Kong in 1999 along with another panda, to mark the second anniversary of the city's handover from former colonial ruler Britain.

Picture Credits: Reuters

She was 38 years old giant and was put out of her misery this morning due to her rapidly deteriorating health over the past two weeks. Recently, her food consumption had sharply declined from over ten kgs to less than three kgs per day and her average weight dropped from 71 kgs to around 67 kgs.

"Jia Jia has been with Ocean Park for 17 years. She was a member of our family and she will be deeply missed, especially by the Park's keepers who took care of her over the years. Jia Jia was the world's oldest giant panda ever under human care at the ripe old age of 38" the park said in a statement. Last year, the park had celebrated the giant Panda’s 37th birthday in a grand manner with a birthday cake made from ice and vegetables.

Picture Credits: Reuters

According to the World Wildlife Fund, Pandas are endangered because most of their natural habitat has been destroyed for timber, farming, construction etc. A Chinese government survey in 2014 estimated 1,864 pandas live in the wild, up by 17 percent from 2003. They also have an exceptionally short breeding season, with females fertile for just 24 to 36 hours a year, says a non-profit body, Pandas International.

Originally covered by Reuters| Posted by Isha Kohli.