Officials at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are trying to figure out what caused the sudden death of a red panda at its facility.
Henry, a 4-year-old red panda, died on Dec. 5, the Smithsonian National Zoo announced Wednesday.
The red panda had been in good health before his death, officials say. There were also no signs of trauma or injury.
Red pandas typically live eight to 10 years in the wild. Red pandas who live in captivity have a life expectancy of 16 years or more.
Henry was born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, in June 2014. His mother Regan was unable to raise cubs in the past, so his keepers hand-reared him. He later became a father, siring three cubs.
The zoo says a pathology report will give them more answers about Henry's death in the coming weeks.
