The
Panda breeding
centre is
another major
tourist
destination.
We were able
to take a
metro to Panda
Avenue where
shuttle buses
take you the
last couple of
miles. The
centre is a
park with
large
enclosures for
either a group
of younger
bears or
solitory older
ones. The
Pandas are not
shy and sit
happily near
the edges of
their
enclosures
mostly eating
but
occasionally
playing games
on the log
climbing
frames.
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This
is what they
do most of the
time- munch
bambo shoots
using their
stomachs as
trays for
discarded
leaves.
The shoots
look like ice
cream cones
and the Pandas
pick them up
in their fist
from a large
pile and give
them a sniff,
discarding any
that aren't
perfect.
Usually they
have one in
each paw
chomping
alternate
sides.
They have been
breeding
Pandas for
reintroduction
to the wild
successfuly
for some time
but it seems
that most of
the
reproduction
is achieved
with artifical
insemination.
Natural
conception is
tough for
Pandas- The
females only
come into
season one or
two days a
year and if
the fussy
female lets
the male
anywhere near
he is further
disadvantaged
with a small
penis.
The Panda
outfit is
remarkably
consistent. I
couldn't tell
one set of
markings from
another so how
the females
can
distinguish a
handsome Panda
is a mystery.
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Sleeping
is 2nd
favourite
activity after
eating. We
were warned to
get to the
site early as
the Pandas
tend to sleep
after about
10am and then
for most of
the afternoon.
We didn't
notice the
activity
dropping off
and we found
the Pandas
kept us amused
for most of
the day.
The bamboo
doesnt grow
locally so
lorry loads of
bamboo are
brought in
every day. The
David
Attenborough
documentary
that was shown
on a loop in
one of the
breeding
houses
suggested that
workers have
to harvest
bamboo from
the forest and
carry massive
bundles on
their backs
out to the
road.
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