Panda Patriarch Dies in Mexico
- Share via
Associated Press
MEXICO CITY — Pe-Pe, the beloved patriarch of a family of giant pandas at the Chapultepec Zoo, died today of cancer, zoo officials said. He was 13. The Chinese government gave Pe-Pe and his mate, Ying-Ying, to Mexico in September, 1975.
The couple had seven cubs, of which four survived. They became the largest family of giant pandas outside China and one of the zoo’s most popular attractions. Pandas normally live about 20 years. There are fewer than 1,000 giant pandas, an endangered species, believed to be living in the wild.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
