The giant panda Eimei, or Yong Ming in Chinese, passed away on Jan 25 due to multiple organ failure at the age of 32, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding announced on its official WeChat account on Friday. The male panda was born on Sep 14, 1992.

At age two, Eimei was sent to Adventure World, an amusement park in Shirahama of Japan's Wakayama prefecture, as part of the long-term giant panda breeding cooperation plan between China and Japan.

During his time in Japan, Eimei mated with two female pandas, becoming the father of 16 and creating the largest giant panda family outside of China.

In February 2023, he returned to China with his twin daughters Ouhin and Touhin. He then lived at the Chengdu panda base's hero farm, where he enjoyed a peaceful retirement, leisurely foraging in the bamboo groves, strolling through the woods and basking in the sunlight.

In January, Eimei began showing signs of lethargy, reduced appetite and prolonged inactivity, according to the announcement. Despite round-the-clock care and treatment, his condition continued to deteriorate, making eating and breathing difficult. He ultimately died from multiple organ failure.