The 18-year-old male giant panda Tuan Tuan, one of a pair given to Taiwan by China in 2008, is expected to appear in public on Oct. 18 at the earliest for the first time since falling ill from a seizure-induced brain lesion, after showing signs of stabilization, Taipei Zoo announced Wednesday.
Zookeepers noticed Tuan Tuan behaving abnormally on Aug. 24. The panda was then observed being excessively sleepy and walking unsteadily in early September, Taipei Zoo spokesman Eric Tsao (曹先紹) said at a press briefing.
After reviewing video footage, it was found that Tuan Tuan suffered an apparent seizure lasting three minutes on Aug. 23, followed by two shorter episodes on Aug. 30 and 31, according to Tsao.
On Sept. 18, Tuan Tuan received a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and a medical examination at National Taiwan University Hospital. Results showed the panda to have a brain lesion and it has been administered anti-seizure medication since Oct. 1.
A meeting of veterinary consultants was held on Oct. 7 to discuss the causes of the illness, Tsao said.
Lai Yen-Hsueh (賴燕雪), a chief veterinarian at Taipei Zoo, said that after the meeting, cerebrovascular diseases and infections were excluded, with the most likely cause believed to be inflammation or a tumor caused by an autoimmune disorder.
Regarding follow-up care and medical planning for Tuan Tuan, Lai said the current focus is to temporarily control the seizures and continue to track any further clinical manifestations.
Wang I-min (王怡敏), head of the animals division at Taipei Zoo, said that the nursing team currently gives Tuan Tuan five meals a day and will continue to monitor his condition closely.
Asked when the public can see Tuan Tuan, Wang said that after an observation period of about two weeks the giant panda is expected to return to the zoo’s panda exhibit area as soon as Oct. 18.
Tuan Tuan is 18 years old, which is considered old for a panda and is about 50 to 60 years old in human year.
In July, the world’s oldest male giant panda in captivity, named An An, died at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park. It was 35 years old, according to a CNN report.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel