Extreme (but necessary?) lengths for Pandas...

[KatherineAlex]

I just saw this article on Chinese panda workers, dressing up as pandas to handle and care for baby pandas.

I wanted to know the opinion of zookeepers on this different take. Do you think its silly or effective? Apparently, its so they do not get used to humans and can be reintroduced, etc.

Here is the article:
Why Chinese scientists are dressing up in Panda suits to fool bear cubs | Mail Online

I think its a cool, creative idea, especially coming from a usually stringent China, but I am not sure it is effective (I guess no one is yet). I think visually, it could possibly work, but there are so many other factors that differentiate us from pandas (duh) and I am wondering how astute the baby pandas perceptions are (ie, scent, feel of fur, etc)

If you think its a good idea, do you think it could be effective in dealing with other types of animal care?

 

[Hix]

This sort of thing has been happening with birds for years - chicks being fed with an artificial head designed to resemble an adult of the species in question. It takes a bit more effort, but it works (with birds, at least). Can't see why it wouldn't work with pandas.



Hix

 

[Saola]

It is good practice, but I would argue that masking human scent is probably even more important with animals like pandas.

 

[Peter Dickinson]

The whole thing is no more than a publicity stunt. Why do they not let the Pandas rear their own young? That would be one mighty step forward for Pandakind. Right now the Chinese are 'factory farming' and creche rearing pandas.
That said they are exceptionally good at producing pandas and they have rearing off to a fine art. The facilities in Chengdu are excellent.
Parent reared pandas are the way forward with any release programme.

 

[OrangePerson]

There's absolutely no logic in the implication that they're less likely to get into trouble with wild pandas because of this 'men in suits' rearing, unless they are also versed in some important, possibly subtle panda behaviour.

 

[Pertinax]

The whole thing is no more than a publicity stunt. Why do they not let the Pandas rear their own young? That would be one mighty step forward for Pandakind. Right now the Chinese are 'factory farming' and creche rearing pandas.
That said they are exceptionally good at producing pandas and they have rearing off to a fine art. The facilities in Chengdu are excellent.
Parent reared pandas are the way forward with any release programme.

How much I agree with you on that whole statement.....

 

[Pertinax]

There's absolutely no logic in the implication that they're less likely to get into trouble with wild pandas because of this 'men in suits' rearing, unless they are also versed in some important, possibly subtle panda behaviour.

Agree. Without proper early socialisation with adult Pandas- principally their mothers, handreared cubs are always going to be socially disadvantaged. I think it would take more than carers dressed in 'pandasuits' to overcome that. As mentioned above, this technique is widely used nowadays with artificial bird rearing (cranes, bustards, takahe, parrots etc etc) but birds rely more on simple visual stimuli for imprinting, than mammals such as Pandas do.