All articles tagged with #pandas
A 9-year-old girl's sudden behavioral changes and severe symptoms led her mother to discover she had PANS/PANDAS, autoimmune conditions triggered by infections, which were successfully treated with antibiotics and IVIG, restoring her to near-normal life. The case highlights the importance of awareness and proper diagnosis of these often-misunderstood disorders.
A 9-year-old girl's sudden behavioral changes and severe symptoms led her mother to discover she had PANS/PANDAS, a condition caused by infections attacking her brain. After proper diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics and IVIG, her condition improved significantly, highlighting the importance of awareness and early diagnosis of this often-misunderstood disorder.
Japan is bidding farewell to its pandas as diplomatic relations with China become more complex, reflecting a deepening row between the two countries.
Thousands visited Tokyo's Ueno Zoo to see the last of the twin pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, before their return to China amid worsening Japan-China relations, marking the first time in over 50 years Japan will be without pandas on loan from China, with prospects for new pandas uncertain due to diplomatic tensions.
Twin pandas at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo are returning to China in late January, leaving Japan without pandas for the first time in about 50 years, amid deteriorating Japan-China relations and challenges in securing new pandas on loan.
A common childhood infection, strep throat, can in rare cases trigger Pandas, a disorder causing sudden neuropsychiatric symptoms due to autoimmune reactions affecting the brain, leading to severe behavioral and physical changes, with treatment options like IVIG and plasma exchange often underutilized despite evidence of effectiveness.
Hong Kong's first locally born giant pandas, Jia Jia and De De, have been officially named through a resident contest, symbolizing family prosperity and success, and are seen as a boost for local tourism and cultural diplomacy.
Hong Kong is set to display 2,500 panda sculptures as part of the PANDA GO! FEST HK, capitalizing on the local enthusiasm for pandas following the birth of twin cubs at Ocean Park. The exhibition aims to boost tourism and the local economy, with sculptures made from recycled materials and special designs by figures like Pharrell Williams. The initiative reflects Hong Kong's strategy to leverage pandas, considered China's unofficial national mascot, as a tool for economic and diplomatic engagement.
China allocated millions of dollars intended for panda conservation towards infrastructure projects like roads and buildings, raising concerns about the effectiveness of conservation funding and the impact on panda habitats.
Seoul experienced record-breaking snowfall this week, with 16.1 cm falling on Wednesday, the heaviest November snowfall since 1907. While residents and the country's first twin panda cubs enjoyed the winter wonderland, the snow caused significant disruptions, including power outages, flight cancellations, and road restrictions. Authorities are investigating three deaths potentially linked to the weather, and President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for measures to minimize public inconvenience.
Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao will return to Washington, D.C.'s National Zoo by the end of the year under a 10-year breeding and research agreement with China. This move follows the departure of the zoo's previous pandas last fall and aims to continue the successful conservation efforts that have helped improve the species' status from endangered to vulnerable. The new pandas will be quarantined upon arrival and the zoo plans to raise $25 million for exhibit renovations and conservation support.
The Smithsonian's National Zoo is welcoming two new giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, by the end of 2024. The zoo is enhancing their indoor and outdoor habitats with modern features and improved safety measures. Funds raised through memberships, donations, and merchandise sales support panda care and broader conservation efforts.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that the city will be receiving a pair of pandas from China as part of Beijing's "panda diplomacy," marking the city's first long-term hosting of the beloved animals. The move comes after a yearlong advocacy campaign and signifies a continuation of China's practice of loaning pandas to other countries for diplomatic and wildlife conservation purposes. The announcement precedes a planned visit to China by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, amid ongoing diplomatic exchanges between the two countries.
Chinese researchers have identified the gene responsible for the rare brown-and-white fur of a few giant pandas in China, including Qizai, the world's only captive brown-and-white panda. The brown pandas are missing a specific sequence of DNA in the Bace2 gene, leading to a malfunction of the protein responsible for pigmentation. This discovery sheds light on the genetic basis of the unique fur coloration and opens up new avenues for further research into the mechanisms behind the color change in pandas.
China is planning to continue its tradition of panda diplomacy with Western countries by sending giant pandas to the United States and Europe. Agreements have been reached with the San Diego Zoo in California and the Madrid Zoo in Spain for a new round of international giant panda conservation cooperation. Negotiations are also underway with the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. This move aims to keep alive a tradition of China lending pandas to American zoos as a gesture of friendly diplomacy, despite the return of several pandas to China from the United States in recent years raising questions about the practice ending.