Shuan Shuan, the oldest giant panda in Mexico, died at the age of 35 at the Chapultepec Zoo

Study reveals when pandas' diet evolved 0:51

(CNN Spanish) --

The oldest giant panda in Mexico and one of the oldest in the world died this Wednesday at the age of 35 at the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City, hours after celebrating his birthday.

"With hundreds of drawings and a giant cake, with dates and apples, his favorite food, as part of his environmental enrichment, Shuan Shuan lived his last day full of joy," said the Secretary of the Environment (Sedema) of Mexico when reporting about his death.

Shuan Shuan lived 35 years, more than double the average lifespan of his species in its natural habitat, which is 15 years.

It was the offspring of Pe Pe and Ying Ying, two giant pandas that were brought to Mexico in 1975 as a gift from China after the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"Today we say goodbye to Shuan Shuan with immense gratitude for teaching us about the conservation of his species, a panda that represented a symbol of friendship between Mexico and China," said Sedema.

"We want cake! 🎂🥳 Today two very important events were celebrated in the Forest, the 99th Anniversary of the #ZoológicoDeChapultepec and the birthday of Shuan-Shuan and Xin-Xin, two giant pandas, one of the longest-lived in the world," he wrote in Twitter the Chapultepec Forest of CDMX hours before Shuan Shuan died.

(Credit: @ChapultepecCDMX)

Shuan Shuan means double double and, according to the agency, its name is due to the fact that it had a twin when it was born on June 15, 1987. The giant panda will be remembered for its good appetite and for having been very active and playful throughout its life. .

Although, like all giant pandas, she "could spend more than 2 hours resting, on top of her platform."

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After the care of the General Directorate of Zoos and Wildlife Conservation, which includes keepers who are called "panderos", veterinarians, biologists and other operational personnel, Shuan Shuan was the oldest giant panda in Mexico and one of the pandas giants who have reached one of the oldest ages outside of China.

The giant pandas that were born in Mexico

Watch these baby pandas take their first steps 0:44

After the arrival of Pe pe and Ying Ying at the Chapultepec Zoo, seven giant pandas were born, according to Sedema, thus becoming an important contribution to the conservation of this species.

"There are currently more than 1,800 giant pandas in the wild in China, their country of origin, and more than 500 in breeding centers and zoos, most of them in their country of origin," according to Sedema.

Over the years, along with their parents, the giant pandas at the Chapultepec Zoo have died of age or disease.

Shuan Shuan, who died this Wednesday at the age of 35, was the daughter of the first pandas to arrive in Mexico and the sister of Tohui, the mother of Xin Xin, who is now the only surviving giant panda in Mexico and is 32 years old.

The average life expectancy of the giant panda in the wild is 15 years, however, the longest living under human care reach approximately 30 years of age, according to Sedema.

"Shuan Shuan has been one of the oldest giant pandas in the world and was part of a select group of eight living giant pandas around the world that are currently over 30 years of age."

ChapultepecGiant Panda