Taipei Zoo will be holding a memorial event for Tuan Tuan (團團) on the first anniversary of his death. The beloved giant panda Tuan Tuan died of a brain tumor on November 19, 2022. After discussions with experts, the zoo has also decided to preserve Tuan Tuan's fur in its natural state as a specimen because of its scientific and educational value. The preservation has already been completed and will be on display soon.
The Director of Taipei Zoo Chen Yi-tsung (諶亦聰) says that November 19 will mark the first anniversary of Tuan Tuan's death and the Giant Panda House will hold a memorial event from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. In addition to inviting everyone to commemorate Tuan Tuan, the zoo also hopes that his special physiological structure and scientific research data can be used as educational materials for researchers and students in the fields of zoology and veterinary medicine.
The Association of Friends of Taipei Zoo invited taxidermist Lin Wen-lung (林文龍), who created the specimen of Lin Wang (林旺) the Mighty Elephant, to perform the overall modeling of Tuan Tuan. The process is now complete and has been registered and approved by the authorities following the Wildlife Conservation Act.
The zoo says it also plans to open an endangered species exhibition area by mid-next year, where visitors can learn about the life stories of endangered species such as gorillas, pangolins, and pandas.