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Plastinated giant panda for education, not profit, insists museum

(Ecns.cn)    10:07, August 20, 2017

A Chinese museum has come under fire for putting a plastinated specimen of a giant panda on display to the public, with an entrance fee, reports thepaper.cn.

The first giant panda plastinated specimen in the world is on display at the Mystery of Life Museum in Dalian. [Photo: thepaper.cn]

Plastination is a technique used to preserve bodies or body parts. Water and fat are replaced by plastic, creating specimens that can be touched, and which don't decay or smell, whilst keeping most of the properties of the original.

The giant panda specimen, reportedly the first of its kind in the world, went on show at the Mystery of Life Museum in Dalian City, in Liaoning Province on August 12. Visitors are charged 100 yuan (around 15 US dollars) to see it.

However, the exhibit caused controversy even before it was revealed to the public. After the museum's founder Sui Hongjin posted a photo of the panda specimen covered with a piece of red cloth on his Sina Weibo social media account, the complaints started rolling in.

In his post, Sui wrote the red cloth would soon be uncovered, a reference to a tradition at a Chinese wedding. He also described the black circles around the panda's eyes as bruising after being punched.

Some panda lovers criticized his terminology, and accused the museum for making money in the name of science education.

Others said Sui's words showed a lack of respect for life, which was unacceptable.

A photo of the panda specimen that was posted online by Sui Hongjin, the founder of Mystery of Life Museum, on his Weibo account. [Photo: thepaper.cn]

Sui explained later that he was simply overjoyed that so many difficulties had been overcome in making the specimen. He added that it had taken a year for a feasibility study to be carried out, and to obtain permission to go ahead.

Sui said the specimen would mainly be used for science education, and the proceeds from the entry fee will be used to maintain the operation of the private museum.

He pointed out that unlike conventional taxidermy, which only retains the skin and fur, plastination preserves the bones, muscles and entrails of the giant panda, causing less harm to the body.

The animal used for display was called Xin Nir, and died of duodenal ileus on February 26, 2016. After getting permission, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda worked with a company in Dalian to make the plastinated specimen, which was then exhibited in Sui's museum. In a statement, the center said the purpose of the project was to conduct veterinary medical research in relation to giant pandas, and to show the evolution and the physiological structure of the animal.

The project was also heralded on the official website of the State Forestry Administration in January this year, which stated that plastination would play an active role in many areas including anatomy, veterinary medicine, histology, pathology as well as education in science and conservation.

Sun Quanhui, a scientific adviser for World Animal Protection, said the most important thing was the reason for making the model. "I think it's acceptable and understandable if it is for science education. Not everyone has the opportunity to see a living giant panda, but they can learn more about the animal in the museum," said Sun.

He also stressed the importance of supervision to prevent endangering the species simply for profit.

(For the latest China news, Please follow People's Daily on Twitter and Facebook)(Web editor: Jiang Jie, Bianji)

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