A female giant panda, who arrived in Japan in 2000 from China, died Wednesday at the age of 14, at the Adventure World Amusement Park in Japan, Kyodo News Agency reports.

Female giant panda Mei Mei, who arrived in Japan in 2000 from China, died Wednesday at the age of 14, at the Adventure World Amusement Park in Japan, Kyodo News Agency reports.

Meimei, the giant panda, was about 50 years in human terms when died. She gave birth to eight cubs in Japan after giving birth to two in China.

Earlier reports say Meimei once again demonstrated a clear act of estrus in September this year and was given insemination with the help of Chinese and Japanese experts.

However, she began losing her appetite and refusing to move about since October. So far, it is still unclear about the problem behind her death.

Meimei had become well known because she gave birth to twin panda cubs in winter, a rarity for the famous infertile animals.

The Adventure World Amusement Park in the western Wakayama Prefecture said it was only the second time that a giant panda in captivity had given birth to cubs in the winter.

(CRI October 17, 2008)