Huan Cai

Basic Profile

Huan Cai (Chinese: 奂彩) was a male giant panda born on June 22, 2022 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. His mother was Mei Huan (美奂) — one of the twin daughters of Lun Lun and Yang Yang born at Atlanta Zoo in 2013.

He was named in December 2022 as part of the base’s “Class of 2022.”

Sudden Illness and Death

On October 1, 2023, at approximately 6:30 PM, keepers noticed Huan Cai was lethargic and refusing food. The base’s medical team immediately began diagnostic tests and treatment. At 9:40 PM, he suddenly developed intestinal bleeding, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. Despite emergency抢救 involving multiple specialists, Huan Cai died at 4:09 AM on October 2, 2023 — just 15 months old.

Pathological examination determined the cause to be acute hemorrhagic necrotic enteritis — a sudden, severe inflammation and necrosis of the intestinal wall. No infectious pathogen was identified, and foreign objects or food poisoning were ruled out. The condition is known for its rapid onset and high mortality, and its exact mechanism remains not fully understood.