Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2015 shows Pan Pan at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (File photo: Xinhua/Xue Yubin)
(ECNS) -- The world's oldest male panda, named Pan Pan, died on Wednesday at the age of 31, the equivalent of 100 human years, Xinhua reported.
Pan Pan, a wild panda born in 1985 in Southwest China's Sichuan province, had been rescued and placed into protection at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center.
Pan Pan fathered about a quarter of all the pandas living in captivity in the world today and has been dubbed "hero dad."
Pan Pan's health deteriorated and he lost his appetite this year because he suffered from cancer. In the past three days, the bear lost consciousness and was not able to eat or move.
