World's oldest panda dies in Chinese zoo at age 34

Giant pandas are among the world’s most endangered species, with about 1,600 in the wild. More than 300 are in captivity in China, most in a breeding programme aimed at boosting the population.

In this photo taken on August 21, 2009 and made available on Tuesday, Giant panda Ming Ming eats bamboo leaves at the Xiangjiang Safari Park in Panyu in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province. AP

Chinese state media say the world’s oldest panda has died at the age of 34.

The Global Times reported Ming Ming died from old age and had kidney failure. She had been living at a zoo or preserve in Guangdong province.

The China Panda Protection Centre in Sichuan province said in a statement she died on May 7, but it was reported only on Tuesday in local media. More details on her were not available.

The newspaper said wild pandas live 15 years on average and captive ones 22 years.

Giant pandas are among the world’s most endangered species, with about 1,600 in the wild. More than 300 are in captivity in China, most in a breeding programme aimed at boosting the population.

The country also loans pandas to zoos worldwide.