Tuan Tuan Suspected of Having Malignant Brain Tumor 大貓熊團團腦部病變 罹惡性腫瘤機會增

Taipei Zoo has invited experts from China to come to Taiwan as giant panda Tuan Tuan has a malignant brain tumor, and has been in palliative care. Authorities said they will approve the application as soon as possible.

Many well-wishers have left messages for giant panda Tuan Tuan at Taipei Zoo. Tuan Tuan is currently in stable condition, but the zoo suspects he has a malignant brain tumor. After experts in China the zoo has been consulting said they would like to travel to Taiwan to see Tuan Tuan in person, the zoo asked the Council of Agriculture to approve the visit.

Wang Yi-min, Director, Animal Section, Taipei Zoo: “(This is an emotion-charged exchange.) Our virtual consultations with the experts have gone very well, and we are in agreement about how the proceed medically. However, they also want to see their beloved Tuan Tuan in person.”

The zoo hopes the COA, Mainland Affairs Council, and National Immigration Agency will grant approval for two experts to travel to Taiwan for seven days. Approval from all of these agencies is required. The COA and MAC have both said they will approve the application as soon as possible.

Huang Chin-cheng, Deputy Minister, Council of Agriculture: “I expect our Department of Planning will process the application and approve it as soon as possible so that their experts can come.”

Chiu Chui-cheng, Deputy Minister, Mainland Affairs Council: “The government will conduct a very professional review. We will approve the application as soon as possible.”

Tuan Tuan's condition is unheard of in the panda world. As the zoo has ruled out further invasive procedures on Tuan Tuan, his course of treatment won't change a great deal when the experts arrive. The zoo says the experts are coming to Taiwan primarily because they care about Tuan Tuan, and based on six major indicators, it doesn't appear Tuan Tuan is suffering or in any pain.

貓熊館旁設置留言板，不少民眾留下對大貓熊團團的祝福，更有人希望牠不要死，團團近日狀況穩定，但腦部病變並不樂觀，台北市立動物園證實，對岸專家這個月兩度表達想來台探視，評估時間合適，以及團團來自中國大陸的情感因素，已積極為他們提出來台的申請。

台北市立動物園動物組長王怡敏說道：「（這次的交流情感層面比較高）我們的定調主軸是這樣，我們在線上交流的情況都是很順暢的，醫療部分也有些初步的共識，但情感面的探視一定是要實體進行。」

此次所提出的防疫計畫書為兩位專家來台7天，先由農委會專案審查急迫性專業性等，再由陸委會審核，通過之後再到移民署做入出境申請，園方感謝中央單位協助，而農委會與陸委會也公開表示會用最快的速度核准。

農委會副主委黃金城表示：「農委會的企劃處應該會盡速來辦理同意，就是讓他們的專家來看。」

陸委會副主委邱垂正說道：「主管機關會依專業的審核，我們會以最快的速度來核准這個案子。」

事實上園方曾表示，團團的病況大陸專家也聞所未聞，加上對團團不再進行侵入性治療，因此對岸專家來台，對現有的醫療方式並不會有太多介入與改變，純粹來台對團團表達關心，團團近期行動能力算正常，園方說從6大指標來觀察，牠並沒有因病感到痛苦。