China Giant Panda Center Responds to Infant Panda’s Death from Strangulation by Climbing Net: A Rare and Unexpected Incident – Thorough Investigation of Hidden Risks
On April 10th, the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center announced: at the Shenshiping Base, an eight-month-old female giant panda named 'Lu Lu Zi' died due to the climbing net wrapping around its neck and causing asphyxiation. On the afternoon of November 11th, the Panda Center accepted a exclusive interview with CCTV reporters.
Hot point one: Has a similar situation happened before?
Professor Huang Yan of the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center said, 'I have been doing giant panda research for 30 years, and I have never seen such a thing. I also felt very surprised. Whether it's a wild giant panda or a captive panda, sometimes they will fall from trees or from a few meters high, and occasionally they will suffer some injuries, but there has never been such a case. It's really a great pity.'
Hot point two: Why did the giant pandas appear outdoors at night?
Why did the giant pandas appear in the outdoor exercise field at night? Professor Huang Yan explained, 'The small door connecting the panda kindergarten to the enclosure and the exercise field is generally kept open, allowing the pandas to freely enter and exit. Keepers generally do not intervene too much. Through the study of giant pandas, whether wild pandas or captive pandas, besides the fact that they will be active during the day, they will also have activity peaks at night. It's not completely the same as human sleep schedules.'
Hot point three: How to plug the security gaps in giant panda management?
Regarding the death of 'Lu Lu Zi,' the Panda Center expressed deep regret and responded: there was a certain lack of security management in the giant pandas. Currently, the climbing apparatus at the incident site has been removed. Professor Huang Yan said, 'It's beneficial for giant pandas' growth and development, but we should pay more attention to its safety, and the requirements should be higher.' On the same day, in the four bases of the Panda Center, all these hidden dangers were being eliminated, especially those with ropes, such as sharp objects, and anything that could affect the safety of the pandas, were being checked one by one. (Reporter Zheng Bo, Huang Lili)
Source: CCTV News Client
