One Tough Panda

Thu., June 3, 1999

Hsing-Hsing, the National Zoo’s ailing giant panda, seems to be feeling better, zoo officials said Wednesday. The 28-year-old male panda - the zoo’s most visited attraction and one of the oldest of the species in the world - popped out of his Panda House Wednesday and also could be seen chewing on bamboo in his outdoor yard. Hsing-Hsing was diagnosed last month with irreversible chronic kidney failure, probably related to his advanced age. “He has surprised us with his ability to respond,” said zoo veterinarian Lucy Spelman said, who emphasized that this is not a deathwatch yet. “He’s really tough.” For treatment, the zoo has anesthetized the panda four times in the past two weeks and given him intravenous fluids to counter dehydration and make him produce more urine to flush out toxins.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

One Tough Panda

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

U.S., Iran stall on Hormuz reopening as oil supplies tighten

Was California mayor a spy? L.A. suburb left wondering about China’s effort to influence

ISIS second-in-command killed by U.S., Nigerian forces, presidents say