旅美大熊猫“乐乐”突然离世！
据中国动物园协会2月2日消息并与美国田纳西州孟菲斯动物园确认，25岁的旅美大熊猫“乐乐”于美国当地时间2月1日早晨被发现死亡。
美国孟菲斯动物园在官网发布了“乐乐”不幸去世的消息，称全体员工深感哀痛。通告里称“乐乐”是只个性活泼可爱的大熊猫，爱吃苹果，喜欢嬉戏，高兴起来会用新鲜竹叶遮盖身体自得其乐。
"Le Le was a happy bear that enjoyed apples, engaging with enrichments and relaxing while covering himself with freshly shredded bamboo. He had an easy-going personality and was a favorite of all who met and worked with him over the years," the zoo said in a statement.
“乐乐”自抵达美国以后，20年来给孟菲斯市民，以及数百万计的游客带去无尽欢乐。通告称，“乐乐”是代表大熊猫物种的卓越使者，是中美两国在大熊猫保护研究合作领域熠熠闪光的象征。
Over the 20 years, Le Le delighted millions of guests, served as an exemplary ambassador for his species and remains a shining symbol of conservation partnership with China, the zoo said.
2003年4月，雌性大熊猫“丫丫”和雄性大熊猫“乐乐”一同前往美国田纳西州孟菲斯动物园，开始10年的旅居生活。2013年协议到期后，又延长了10年。
Le Le, born on July 18, 1998 at the Shanghai Zoo, was 25 years old at the time of his death. He came to the zoo in 2003 and was slated to return to China this year after the end of the loan agreement with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens.
近年来，保护动物组织批评美国孟菲斯动物园对大熊猫的照顾不足，甚至有虐待大熊猫的行为。
In recent years, the Memphis Zoo has drawn criticism from animal activists who believed the pandas were being mistreated and neglected.
去年12月，美国孟菲斯动物园曾宣布将归还大熊猫“丫丫”和“乐乐”。动物园发言人表示，将大熊猫送回中国的决定与动物保护者的压力无关。
孟菲斯动物园的公告截图
中国相关部门对大熊猫“乐乐”突然去世十分关切，并深表遗憾和惋惜。中方已通知美方妥善保存尸体，并及时组建专家组，尽快前往美国孟菲斯动物园，与美方专家共同开展大熊猫死亡原因调查。
编辑：史雪凡
视频：董浩
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