Researchers dressed as giant pandas prepare panda cub for the wild in Chinese reserve

At the Hetaoping Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda in China's famous Wolong Nature Reserve, this 4-month-old cub is something of a pioneer, and the human researcher in a panda suit is helping to prepare him for life in the wild.

The captive-bred cub is being prepared for his eventual release through a new program conceived by panda researchers working to increase the endangered species' numbers in the wild.

For the program to be successful, the cub must be prevented from "imprinting" on his human caretakers or developing too much dependence on people. (We wonder if a similar aim could be achieved by allowing the cubs to be raised by dogs trimmed and dyed to resemble pandas.)

The researchers released four pregnant pandas into a protected area monitored by hidden cameras  this year, according to the Telegraph; the cub in the photo above was born to one of those mothers. When the researchers must come into close contact with him -- to take his temperature or give him a veterinary checkup, for example -- they do so only when clad in full-body panda costumes.

If anyone knows where one can fill out an application for panda-costume-wearing cub-sitter, please clue us in! This sounds like the best job in the world, perhaps tied only with Professional Island Caretaker. See more photos of the cub and his fake-panda caretakers after the jump!

RELATED PANDA NEWS:

• Giant panda baby boom at Chinese preserve is good news for the endangered species

• China announces plans to train captive giant pandas for life in the wild

-- Lindsay Barnett

1st-3rd photos: Reuters

4th-5th photos: Associated Press

 

Comments

[Jasmine Mace]

Uhh.... no. I think this is silly. I thought animals rely more on their sense of smell than their gullibility to plushie yiffin' gear. If those researchers weren't doused in panda-potent perfume,I think they will get mawled as soon as the cubs get their first chance at a swipe.

[Martha]

Can we do this next time they come to the Bronx Zoo?

[Len]

If it were me in there I couldn't help but talk like Yogi Bear.

[guest]

is it made out of real panda?

[Krista]

I was thinking the same thing Jasmine. This is pretty dumb.

[Goodwill Store]

That's awesome.

[Isobel Smith]

Clearly they are still 1000 years behind in animal psychology. This is a tragedy waiting to happen exposing cubs to being beaten to death by the wild ones. Not only do they release them with huge visible tags that make them look different, but the cub's facial and body language is now not only human, but gross teddy bear outfit human.

Perhaps if they left them with their mothers 100 per cent of the time, the cubs would stand a bigger chance of success in the wild.

I thought when I first saw this, it was a joke.

[Tyler Durden]

I'm glad all of you know better than these researchers who work with pandas on a daily basis...

[For the Wildlife]

Well of course they rely on smell but sight is also a big part of it especially because pandas have great vision. Researchers use puppets and stuff like this in captive breeding programs so the young don't grow up seeing humans DUH! These people know what they are doing look at past examples of animals in captive breeding programs, for example the Black-Footed Ferrets and the California Condor. There are many majors and education dedicated to wildlife conservation and management and learning about animal behavior is part of it. It's so funny to see how you all (meaning those ignorantly criticizing these researchers) think you know more than these reseachers who have dedicated themeselves to wildlife, are you the one out there saving these species? OBVIOUSLY NOT. They can't just leave the panda's with the mother because panda mothers only take care of one cub even if there are twins, only one will survive.

[Charity]

I agree Tyler!
When was the last time some of you took care of and researched pandas?
I think this is great. They are so adorable, Would hate to see them gone :(
Anything is worth a try :)

[Bo]

According to the scientists in the picture, they kidnapped the sleeping cub after locking up his mom. The little guy woke up in the lab and came really upset, fighting with all his little body's strength and barked at the top of his lung to protest. The scientists struggled half a hour to try to stimulate the cub to collect his pee and poo and failed since the little guy would not cooperate. The scientists learn a lot from the experiment, such as panda cubs are not as fragile as previously believed, since his cub raised without human help and was healthier than other cubs born this year in captivity.

[Kaylee Merritt]

I think this is a good idea because that way the baby panda bear won't be freaked out when the scientist come to take care of the baby panda.