A zookeeper’s routine cleanup of a panda’s den in China took a dramatic turn on the morning of September 19 when she found herself being chased by a curious panda.
The incident unfolded at Chongqing Zoo in the Jiulongpo District, where visitors watched in disbelief as the zookeeper entered the den without securing the door to the pandas’ interior enclosure. In a surprising twist, a 9-year-old panda named DingDing was right at the door.
As the keeper reached past DingDing to shut the door, it unexpectedly bounced back open. When she tried again, her repeated attempts seemed to frustrate the panda. DingDing, undeterred, remained at the door while the zookeeper retreated to the far side of the enclosure.
But when DingDing finally moved, the zookeeper sprinted for the door, only to be intercepted by the playful panda, who began chasing her around the den. The scene quickly became a thrilling spectacle for onlookers!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/zookeeper-panda-092024-1-1f9a0068859444f0807e404860a1d01e.jpg)
Shocked zoo-goers looked on in disbelief as DingDing cornered the zookeeper, knocking her to the ground. The playful panda pounced on top of her, pawing at the bewildered employee while onlookers and the zookeeper herself screamed in panic. At one point, it appeared DingDing even bit the woman’s arm.
Fortunately, after a tense moment, DingDing turned away, allowing the zookeeper to scramble to her feet and escape. Thankfully, reports indicate that both the zookeeper and the panda emerged from the encounter unscathed.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(2784x0:2786x2):format(webp)/Two-giant-pandas-are-playing-at-Chongqing-Zoo-in-Chongqing-China-062824-bbfd72ae0f424c5283d7f4d9aade97a2.jpg)
A spokesman for Chongqing Zoo announced they are investigating the incident and closely monitoring DingDing’s behavior to ensure she is not experiencing any stress, as reported by outlets including PEOPLE.
DingDing, who was born at the zoo in August 2015, isn’t the only panda to cause a stir. In April 2024, her siblings, Yu Ke and Yu Ai, made headlines when they knocked down zookeepers during a playful encounter, prompting a coworker to step in and help.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, while giant pandas are typically solitary and peaceful animals that avoid confrontation, they won’t hesitate to fight back if they feel cornered.
