The Giant Panda

Pandas International’s Education Program
Endangered means we have time-
Extinction is Forever!
Goals of Pandas International
The primary goals of Pandas International are to ensure that not one captive or wild Giant
Panda is lost, the species propagate and their environment is preserved. We must take
responsibility for sharing our planet.
Contents
1. The Giant Panda
2. Panda Habitat
3. Panda Cubs
4. One Year-old Pandas
5. Adult Pandas
6. Food/Diet of the Giant Panda
7. Giant Panda Reserves in China
8. Reintroduction
9. Legends of the Panda
Why We Love the Panda
The Giant Panda has an endearing quality that captivates us. The Giant Panda’s
“cuddly” appearance and charming character make it an exceptionally loveable
creature especially among school children.
Seldom aggressive unless protecting its young, the Giant Panda is peaceful and
gentle. It is easy to see why the people of China refer to the Giant Panda as a
“National Treasure.”
Introductory -Facts About The Giant Panda
Scientific Name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Adult Weight: 165- 353 pounds
Weight at birth: 4- 8 ounces
Adult Body Length: 4-5 feet
Diet: 25 to 40 pounds of bamboo per day
Life Span: 15-20 years in the wild
25-35 years in captivity
Habitat: Southwestern China
1- The Giant Panda
Population
The results of the most comprehensive survey of the Giant Panda indicate there are around 1,600 animals left in
the wild. This number is higher than previous estimates, due to improved census methods and the fact that the
study was so thorough. Wild Giant Pandas are still one of the most seriously endangered species in the world.
Sometimes Giant Pandas live in captivity. Animals in captivity are cared for by humans in an enclosed space such
as Panda reserves, wildlife parks or zoos. There are currently over 300 Giant Pandas in captivity.
Currently, there are Giant Pandas in four different zoos in the United States, including San Diego, Atlanta,
Memphis, and the National Zoo in Washington D.C. Giant Pandas are also found in zoos in Taiwan, Japan, Hong
Kong, Thailand, Mexico, Spain, Austria, Canada, France, Singapore, United Kingdom, and Australia. Zoos
outside of China must lease the animals from the Chinese government. This money goes towards preservation of
the wild Giant Pandas.
History and status of the Giant Panda
Referred to as a “living fossil” the Giant Panda is believed to
have existed for approximately 3 million years, since the
Pleistocene age. Most animals of this era have long since
perished.
In China’s Han dynasty (206 BC – 24 AD), the highly prized
and gentle Giant Pandas graced the gardens of the emperors.
Giant Pandas were believed to have mystical powers.
The first Westerner to describe a panda was Pere Armand
David in 1869.
In the 1940’s the Chinese government began conservation
efforts to protect the Giant pandas. Conservation is the preservation and careful management of the environment
and of natural resources to protect the Giant Pandas. In 1963 the first Giant Panda reserve was established in
southern China. Today there are about 40 reserves in China.
In 1972, when President Richard Nixon established relations with China, the Giant Panda gained attention
in the United States. While visiting China the first lady, Pat Nixon expressed to her host, her affection for the Giant
Panda. It was in response to this comment that the first Giant Panda was sent to the National zoo in Washington
D.C. as a gift from China to Mrs. Nixon.
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Giant Pandas were classified as an endangered species in the 1980’s. Endangered means the number of the
animal is so small that the species is at risk of extinction. Extinction is when an animal no longer exists.
Giant Pandas are on the World Conservation Union’s
Red List of Threatened Animals. The United States’
Endangered Species Act protects the Giant Pandas,
as does the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES).
Species
Species are a family or type of animal.
After years of debate, scientists have determined
through DNA testing that the Giant Panda is actually a
member of the bear family. It was once thought that
the Giant Panda might be of the raccoon family, but
DNA has confirmed that they are in fact bears.
Unlike other bears, however Giant Pandas do
not hibernate. Hibernation is when animals become
inactive or sleep during the winter. Giant Pandas do not
hibernate because they can not store fat.
Appearance
Giant Pandas are known around the world for
their unique black and white coloring. Giant Pandas
resemble other bears in their shape, but have very
distinctive markings. All Giant Pandas have black
patches around their eyes, and black ears on a white
head. Their legs are black and there is a black band
across their backs. Their midsections are white.
It is very difficult to tell Giant Pandas apart since their
markings are basically the same on every animal.
The caretakers can identify individual Giant Pandas
by small markings around their mouth or muzzle and
sometimes across their nose.
Giant Panda fur is coarse, dense and somewhat oily.
Their thick fur keeps the Giant Panda warm in the
cool moist climate of the mountain forests. The
heavy oily fur acts like a raincoat for the Giant Pandas.
Unlike other bears Giant Pandas are slow, seldom
moving faster than a walk and appearing clumsy in
their movement.
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2- Panda Habitat
Habitat is the environment where an animal lives. The Giant Panda
habitat is the mountains in southwestern China.
Today the habitat of the Giant Panda is limited to the mountains in a
few provinces of China. Most are in the Sichuan Province, but they are
also found in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Their range is along the
eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau.
The Giant Panda was once widespread in southern and eastern
China, Vietnam and Myanmar (Burma), but their habitat has been
greatly reduced.
The Giant Panda has lived for centuries in coniferous forests with
dense undergrowth of bamboo, at elevations of 5,000 to 11,000 feet.
Rain or dense mist throughout the year shrouds these remote forests
in heavy clouds. In the winter snow is common.
The Giant Panda’s primary source of food is bamboo. The bamboo
grows under the shade cover of the large fir trees in the mountains.
Giant pandas do not seem to have a permanent den. Since they do
not hibernate, in the winter they will seek shelter in hollow trees or
caves.
The destruction of the natural habitat
and expanding human populations are the
main threats to the Giant Panda. The impact
of rapid population growth has seen the
destruction of a large part of their habitat.
Logging and clearing the land for agricultural
uses or farming is a major factor in the
reduction of bamboo.
In an effort to protect the Giant Panda,
the Chinese government banned or stopped
logging in the Panda reserves.
The Panda reserves in China need to be
connected via corridors in order to reduce
isolation and fragmentation of the Giant
Panda population. Fragmentation is when
the Giant Pandas live in separate areas or the areas are broken up. Villages and human activities block open
ranges for their migration or movement.
The fragmentation of Giant Panda habitats is also one problem with their mating. Another problem related to the
fragmentation of the Giant Panda habitat is that the bamboo will flower and then die off about every 20 to 40 years.
When this occurs the Giant Pandas need to migrate to a new area. There have been reports of Giant Pandas
starving when they are unable to find bamboo in new areas.
The forests that sustain the Giant Panda are under attack by dramatic increases in human population.
Agriculture, ranching, logging, trapping, and human settlement dramatically threaten their habitat. Previously they
lived at lower elevations but farming and clearing of the forest have pushed them higher into the mountains.
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3- Panda Cubs
1 week old twins
1 month old cub being hand fed
Like all bears, Giant Panda
babies are called cubs.
Newborn cubs weigh only 4 to
8 ounces. They are about 6 to
8 inches long, about the size of
a stick of butter. They are born pink,
with almost no hair, and blind.
At about 1 week they begin to
develop their distinctive black
and white markings and at 5-7
weeks they start to open their eyes.
Giant Panda cubs are the
smallest newborns in the bear
species. The size difference
between the cub compared to the
mother is one of the greatest of all
animals. Giant Panda cubs are
very vulnerable since the do not
den or hibernate as other bears
do. In the wild, Giant Pandas nest
on the ground or in hollow trees.
Cubs won't be able to stand on
their own for nearly 4 months.
5 Day old cub
6 weeks old
The mother holds the cub to her
stomach like a human mother.
Sometimes new mothers do not
seem to know how to take care of
their cubs. In captivity, if the mother
does not care for the cub, they are
then raised in incubators, in the
nurseries at the Panda Reserves.
cubs in incubators
When twins are born, mother Giant Pandas will not usually care
for both cubs. At the Panda Reserves, the caretakers in the nurse leave
one cub with the mother for her to care for. The second cub is placed in an
incubator in the nursery. Incubators keep the cubs warm like their mother
would. The nursery staff hand feeds the cub and stays with them 24 hours
a day, everyday. After about a week, the cubs are exchanged or
switched, so both cubs will bond with their mother and receive her care.
Cubs stay in the incubators for about 3 months and then in the nursery at
room temperature until they are 5 or 6 months.
The mother accepts both babies, but only one at a time. The process of
exchanging the cubs, which was developed at Wolong, allows both
of the cubs to survive in captivity. The Wolong Panda Reserve now has
a 90% survival rate with captive born cubs, due in large part to their
method of raising twins.
Incubators and medical equipment provided by Pandas International is
critical to the survival of these cubs.
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4- One Year-old Giant Pandas
At one year the cubs will weigh
between 70 to 80 pounds. In the wild,
cubs will stay with their mothers for about
two years and in captivity veterinarians are
trying to mimic what happens in the wild
now allowing cubs to stay with their
mothers for up to 2 years.
One-Year-old Giant Pandas have lots of
energy and love to play.Older Giant
Pandas spend most of their time eating or
sleeping, but younger Giant Pandas are
very active. They play with other Giant
Pandas, running, chasing each other,
climbing trees, and tumbling on the ground.
Giant Pandas are truly “rolly polly” creatures
when they play.
In captivity they like “toys” which must
be very sturdy and durable to stand up
to their large teeth and powerful jaws.
Since climbing is one of their favorite
activities, their enclosures at the Panda
Centers have many steps, climbing
platforms, and trees.
“Enrichment” is when the environment of Giant Pandas in captivity is enhanced
so they are provided with various activities to keep them stimulated and
entertained. Giant Pandas also love to play in the snow of their natural mountain
habitat or their enclosures.
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5- Adult Giant Pandas
Sense of Smell
Giant Pandas leave scent marks in their territories.
The scent marks serve as a major form of communication.
Giant Pandas can determine from the scent if another Giant
Panda is in the area, including if they are male or female.
They can also tell how recently they left their scent and in
the case of a female if they are in a reproductive period.
To mark their location, Giant Pandas will back up to a
tree and rub their scent glands on the tree, then use their
tail to spread the scent. Some Giant Pandas, particularly
males will back up on the tree until they are virtually doing a
handstand in order to place their scent higher on the tree.
Vocalizations
Latest research confirms adult Giant Pandas are much more “talkative” than we
suspected and have the ability to make 11 distinct sounds. When guarding against
predators or other Giant Pandas, they will huff, snort, chomp, or honk. If they’re trying to
defend themselves, they will moan, bark, or squeal. A growl or roar signifies the start of an
argument or fight. During mating season they may emit a unique bleat or chirping sound.
Reproduction - Breeding
In the wild, Giant Pandas live in seclusion, except during the breeding session.
Breeding maturity in the Giant panda is generally between four and eight years. Females
breed for only a few days once a year, in the spring. Giant Pandas tend to have a low
reproductive rate.
In the wild, Giant Pandas use scent markings and calls to locate a mate during the
reproduction period.
Giant Pandas nest on the ground, caves or in hollow trees, giving birth
approximately 100 to 150 days or 4-5 months after they have mated. Gestation is the
period of time when the cub is carried in the mother. Females give birth to one or two cubs.
Triplets are extremely rare. If twins are born, usually only one survives in the wild. Cubs will stay with their mothers
for about two years, thus females only reproduce every other year.
Many zoos have tried to breed Giant Pandas with only limited success. Hua Mei was the first cub born in the United
States. and was raised in the San Diego Zoo. She was returned to Wolong in 2003. Hua Mei which means born in America
has had several sets of twins and cubs since she was returned to China.
The past 5-10 years have accounted for a huge rise in the number of Giant Panda cubs successfully being born at the
panda centers. In addition, cubs have been born in the U.S, at the San Diego Zoo, Zoo Atlanta and the National Zoo in
Washington D.C. Cubs born in the U.S will return to China when they are approximately 2 years old.
Hua Mei with 1st cub
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6- Food/Diet of the Giant Panda
Giant Pandas are classified as carnivores (animals
that eat meat) however their diet is closer to that of
herbivores (animals that eat plants). Giant Pandas are not
quick animals; therefore they are not able to catch their
own meat. However, if they find meat, they will eat it.
The Giant Pandas’ diet consists almost entirely of
bamboo stalks, shoots and roots. They eat from 25 to 40
pounds per day. There are about 25 different types of
bamboo and bamboo grows all year round.
When available, Giant pandas will eat fish, flowers
and small animals. Giant Pandas in captivity also receive
milk, eggs, and ground meat. Wolong and Bifengxia’s Giant
Pandas also get a specially formulated vitamin bread or
biscuit. Apples and carrots are a favorite treat of Giant
Pandas.
Since the Giant Pandas’ digestive system is not very
efficient, they must consume large quantities of bamboo
every day, in order to obtain the nutrition they need. Young
Giant Pandas can be prone to digestive problems.
Pandas eating Bamboo
Giant Pandas eat for up to 14 hours a day. Their
unique paws make it possible for them to hold the bamboo
and bite the stalks. They generally eat in a sitting position,
but also like to snack while lying on their backs.
The puffy cheeks that make the Giant Pandas
appear so adorable are actually powerful muscles that
enable them to chew through even the toughest
bamboo stalks.
Unlike other bears, Giant Pandas do not store fat
and therefore do not hibernate. Consequently they are
constantly in search of food.
One problem for wild Giant Pandas is that bamboo
will flower and die off. It then takes several years for
the bamboo to recover. In the past, they would migrate
to other areas in search of new plants. Now with their
Bamboo grown by local farmers
range fragmented this is often difficult.
Giant Pandas drink water from the rivers and streams in
their mountain homes. At the Panda reserves, local farmers grow bamboo.
Paws
The front paws of a Giant Panda are very different from
other bears due to a special bone found in their wrists. Their sixth
toe, an opposable thumb is used for grasping bamboo. The Giant
Panda uses this bone in same way humans use their thumbs.
Holding bamboo with front paw
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Panda Bread
Pandas eating special vitamin bread
Drinking milk
Eating carrots in the snow
Drinking water from a pool
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7- Giant Panda Reserves
In the 1940’s, the Chinese government began
conservation efforts to protect the Giant Pandas. In 1963, the
China Conservation & Research Center for the Giant Panda at the
Wolong Nature Reserve, was established in Sichuan Province, China.
Today there are more than 40 Giant Panda reserves across
Southwestern China. These reserves protect not only the Giant
Pandas, but the red panda, the golden monkeys, takin and many
other species
The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant
Pandas at Wolong was located on the Pi Tiao River, southeast of
the Qionglai Mountain. The reserve was destroyed in the massive
earthquake of May 2008 which killed over 90,000 people in China.
The Wolong Center is being rebuilt in a new location and has plans to open in 2013.
In 1986, the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda at Wolong had the first successful captive
Giant Panda birth. Today it is the premier Giant Panda breeding and research facility in the world.
The veterinarians and staff at the Wolong Center pioneered a reproductive
breakthrough in the birth of twins. When Giant Panda twins are born, the mother
usually rejects one cub. This is possibly due to a lack of mother’s milk. While one
cub stays with the mother, staff hand raises the other twin in incubators in the
nursery. In order for both cubs to receive the benefits of their mother’s milk and
their mother’s nurture the infants are alternated between the mother and the
nursery. This method ensures the survival of both Giant Panda babies.
The new Wolong Panda center will be the largest Panda center in the world.
There will be numerous outdoor semi natural enclosures, a hospital and a nursery.
In order to prevent an epidemic among the captive Giant Pandas a second
reserve under the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda was
established at Bifengxia.
Bifengxia opened in January of 2004. This base is located in Ya’an City,
about 280 km from Wolong. Bifengxia now houses all of the Giant Pandas from
Wolong until the new center can be completed.
The Bifengxia base was established as a safeguard for the captive
Giant Panda population. There was great concern regarding an outbreak of
disease or infection. If an epidemic was to occur in the Giant Pandas at the
Wolong Center, it could destroy the entire population. Splitting the Giant
Pandas into two separate populations will hopefully prevent this from
occurring.
The Bifengxia base began as a maiden forest; no power, no road and
no housing. Dr. Tang Chunxiang, Senior Veterinarian said the base was a
“blank paper, waiting for great events to occur”.
The nursery at Bifengxia is staffed 24 hours a day 7 days a week, to
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care for the newborn cubs, which require feeding every three to four hours.
Extensive diaries are kept on each panda. The ratio of staff is one caretaker
for every two Giant Pandas.
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Google map by Jérôme Pouille of France
Yellow “pins” indicate panda reserves in China
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8- Reintroduction
Reintroduction is the process of returning
an animal born in captivity into the wild or their
natural environment. This must be a very slow and
gradual process to ensure the animal can make the
transition from being cared for by humans to taking
care of itself in the wild.
Early Stages of the Reintroduction Program
The program to reintroduce captive born Giant Pandas
back into the wild began in July of 2003. The China Conservation
and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) formed
a team to begin research on wild training of captive pandas from
the fields of ecology, behavior, veterinary needs, feeding
management and researched the captive individuals’ adaptability
in the wild.
Phase 1
Comparative studies on Xiang Xiang and Fufu, two individuals
of a pair of twin pandas determined Xiang Xiang would be the first panda to
enter the reintroduction program. He entered the wild training enclosure
on July 8th, 2003.
Xiang Xiang went through almost 3 years of training in several
increasingly larger semi-wild enclosures. On April 29, 2006, Xiang Xiang was
formally reintroduced to the wild. Location tracking and monitoring were
implemented and related research was conducted.
Xiang Xiang was successful for almost one year; he built a den, was
foraging for food, and making progress. Unfortunately, Xiang Xiang did not
survive in the wild. Xiang Xiang was released in April of 2006 and was found
dead in February of 2007.
Xiang Xiang was thought to have been badly beaten by another panda for territory, food or a mate. In a setback for
China’s first effort to replenish the endangered species with animals reared in breeding reserves, a leading Chinese zoologist
reported that Xiang Xiang had broken at least one small bone and had several other wounds.
Thoughts are that “Xiang Xiang may have fallen from a high place after being chased up a tree by a wild panda,” said
Zhang Hemin, the administrative director of the Wolong Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda. It was the
first step in a long-term program to boost the 1600-strong wild population with captive-bred mammals. Through this
project, valuable first-hand information was acquired.
Phase 2
On June 20, 2010, CCRCGP of Wolong held a meeting in Dujiangyan to start “The 2nd Phase of the Captive Panda
Wild Training Project”. Experts and management people in areas related to panda behavior, ecology, nutrition, genetics,
disease prevention and control from all over China were invited to help with the overall planning, contents and goals,
experiment methods, and selection of individual pandas for wild training etc.
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Cao Cao and her cub
This marked the re-start of the Captive Panda Wild Training Project.
Unfortunately, the project had been suspended after the devastation of the
May 12th Earthquake in Wenchuan in 2008.
On July 20, 2010, the CCRCGP transferred 4 pregnant pandas: Cao Cao, Zizhu,
Ying Ping, and Zhang Ka to the Hetaoping Wild Training Base in Wolong. These
pandas were the official beginning of the 2nd Phase of the Captive Panda Wild
Training Project.
On August 3, 2010 good news came from Hetaoping. Giant panda Cao
Cao had delivered a male cub weighing 205g. This was the first cub delivered
in Wolong after the May 12th Earthquake in Wenchuan in 2008. He was also
the first cub ever delivered in the wild training base globally without any
assistance from humans. The birth of this cub not only marked a key step
forward of the 2nd Phase of the Wolong Captive Panda Wild Training Project,
but also gave great encouragement to the Wolong people for reconstruction
of their homes.
On September 3, 2010, the
cub of Cao Cao turned one
month old. During that month, researchers had developed a long term
plan for Cao Cao and her cub.
The first part of the plan was to allow Cao Cao and her cub to live
in a relatively simple environment to monitor the cub and see if he would
survive without human intervention. Once the cub turned one month
old, Cao Cao and the cub were released into the second phase of
training. Any time the cub was handled researchers wore Panda
costumes covered in Panda feces to mask the smell of humans.
The cub now weighed 1235g which was about 6 times his birth
weight. They were released into a new larger more diverse semi-wild
environment with more challenges to find bamboo, water, and shelter.
This new semi-wild environment created more risk for the cub’s survival,
but was an important and necessary step for the wild training of the cub.
Within the semi-wild training enclosure, 3 nests were built for Cao Cao and her
cub. Cao Cao, was from the wild and had had previous cubs, gradually adapted to the
environment with her cub. By observing and monitoring
Cao Cao and her cub’s behaviors 24 hours a day,
researchers were able to collect vital information
throughout this process. More than 100 cameras had been
set up in the semi-wild enclosure to allow for monitoring.
In order to let more panda fans witness the growth
of this special panda cub, the Wolong CCRCGP launched a
worldwide activity for naming the first cub born in the wild
training base and invited panda fans to vote on CCRCGP’s
official website to name Cao Cao’s cub. CCRCGP revealed
the final selected name on its website officially naming him
Tao Tao.
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Phase 3
Cao Cao and Tao Tao were released into
the 3rd and final phase of training in May of
2012. This was a key stage for releasing Tao Tao
into the wild. Accompanied by his mother, both
Pandas were moved to a 240,000-square-meter
third stage training enclosure located in an area
about 2,000 meters above sea level in a
mountainous forest. The forest vegetation and
geographical features are similar to those of the
second stage training base. Along with a very
large semi-wild enclosure the researchers also
included recordings of other wild animals which live in the same environment. These recordings were crucial in teaching Tao
Tao to avoid other animals which could cause him harm.
Tao Tao had been wandering farther away from his mother, Cao Cao and two is generally the age when cubs leave
their mother in the wild. On October 11, 2012 a major step in diversifying the gene pool among wild giant pandas took place.
Tao Tao who turned two on August 3, 2012, was released into the wild into the Liziping Nature Reserve at Shimian, Ya’an in
Sichuan Province. The Nature Reserve is in the Xiaoxiangling Mountains. Liziping Nature Reserve was chosen by experts in
the reintroduction field.
Huang Yan, Vice Director of CCRCGP, in charge of the reintroduction program, stated, “This is a significant event for
both captive and wild pandas. By following Tao Tao and his life in the wild, other captive pandas may one day also be
released into the wild thus helping this beloved and endangered species to grow.” Tao Tao’s genes will help the wild pandas
in this region of China.
Tao Tao’s movements will be monitored with a special GPS collar for safety, and for gathering important research
data about the lives of the solitary animal. Pandas International supplied the special GPS collar which Tao Tao wears today.
Tao Tao survived the cold winter of 2012 which was a major milestone. He is being tracked with both a radio collar and
monitoring of feces. The reintroduction program continues today with many more cubs being born in similar environments
as Tao Tao. No other cubs have been released to date. Tao Tao continues to be monitored daily and is surviving in the wild
very well. Two more pandas that are currently in the reintroduction program are scheduled to be released in the fall of 2013
and three more Pandas are scheduled to be released in the fall of 2014.
Throughout all phases of the reintroduction program, the pandas are fitted with GPS tracking collars. Pandas
International supplies these collars to the program.
9- Legends of the Giant Panda
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The Giant Panda is considered a “National Treasure” to the people of China. Although they once roamed over a
large portion of Asia, they are now only found in the wild in a small area in Southern China along the Tibetan Plateau. In
ancient China, Giant Pandas are called Pi Xiu or cat bear. In the 1650’s, they were called giant cat bear, white bear or
bamboo bear.
There are few references to the Giant Panda found in folklore, most likely because Giant Pandas in the wild are very
difficult to see and they are very shy. The emperor of the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. to 220 A.D.) kept Giant Pandas in the
imperial garden. In 685, during the Tang Dynasty, the empress, Wu Zetian gave two Giant Pandas to the emperor of Japan as
a gift to extend life.
The large black patch around the Giant Pandas eye is actually thought to make their eyes look larger and thus scarier
to predators.
A Tibetan Myth
One Tibetan legend focuses on how the Giant Pandas got their unique color markings.
Long, long ago, the Giant Pandas lived in the high mountains of Tibet. Their fur was completely snow white. They
were friends with young shepherdesses, who watched their flock in the mountains around their village.
One day a mother and her cub were playing with the shepherdesses and their flock when a strong and hungry
leopard attacked the cub. The shepherdesses tried to save the cub but were unsuccessful and the leopard killed them.
All the Giant Pandas in the area were very sad and held a memorial service for the shepherdesses and to remember
their sacrifice for the cub. The local custom in the mountains was to cover your arms with ashes to honor the deceased.
The Giant Pandas wept. They wiped their eyes with their paws, covered their ears to block the sounds of crying and
hugged each for comfort. The ashes blackened their fur. The Giant Pandas did not wash the black off their fur as a constant
reminder of the girls.
A Second Variation
When the Giant Pandas came to the funeral, they wore black armbands as a sign of respect. They were so sad during
the funeral service that they began to cry. As they cried, they wiped their eyes with the black armbands. As the black
armbands became wet with tears, the dye began to run. When they wiped away their tears, large black marks were left on
their eyes and ears. As they hugged each another, the black dye stained their fur.
A Third Variation
One other variation of the story has the Giant
Pandas turning the girls into a mountain with four
peaks to ensure they always would be remembered.
This is the Four Girls Mountain Range located in the
Sichuan province overlooking the Wolong Panda
Reserve.
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