Two giant pandas from China’s main panda conservation center in the southwestern province of Sichuan were caught on video performing a typical bear behavior: rubbing their backs against logs to scratch themselves.
In the images, captured at the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center, the pandas can be seen pressing their backs and hindquarters against the rough wood, rotating and shifting their weight rhythmically.
One of the bears featured in the video is Zhang Ka, a male panda originally rescued from the wild in the Zhangga mountain area of the Fengtongzhai National Nature Reserve in Sichuan. The other is You You, also male, born at the center on July 30, 2017.
The largest population of captive giant pandas in the world
As the world’s leading institution in giant panda breeding, conservation and research, the center has established the largest captive population of giant pandas in the world, pioneered artificial breeding programs for the species, and initiated research on the reintroduction of captive-bred pandas to the wild.
The center also manages the world’s largest and most extensive giant panda cooperation and exchange platform. To date, it has partnered with 18 zoos in 16 countries and regions, as well as 39 zoological institutions and more than 10 research institutes in China, fostering collaboration in panda protection, breeding and scientific research.
