Giant Panda Xing Xing (also known as Long Long, Ko Ko and Kou Kou) passed away at midday local time on the 9th Septemeber 2010.

It appears that whilst staff were performing the extraction of semen under anaesthesia, his heart stopped and they were unable to start it again.

Xing Xing was due to celebrate his 15th birthday in a few days time on September 14th.

Xing Xing and his mate Tan Tan (Dan Dan , Shuan Shuan) moved to Kobe in December 2002.

Xing Xing and Tan Tan had produced cubs but none survived.