Are Pandas A Threat? The Giant Panda

Pandas have been stereotyped as hostile or harsh animals whose interactions with humans appear to be combative rather than friendly. It is not because pandas are aggressive in the presence of humans. Instead, it seems that their docile nature stems from human annoyances. These irritants can take various forms, such as being attacked by humans or being distracted somehow.

Furthermore, pandas are frequently moody and anxious, with difficult-to-control body movements and obsessive behaviors that are often compulsive. Giant pandas only attack when they are enraged or scared. There are different cases of massive attacks, even though they are rare. Due to their powerful bot, you wouldn’t want to get attacked by a panda. The following is what to know about pandas.

Are Pandas Dangerous?

Pandas are animals that have most people regard as submissive zoo animals with gentle and promising character. Cases of giant panda attacks are rare. However, when a panda attacks you, things can get fatal because of its strong bite. Giant pandas only attack when they get infuriated or frightened. Therefore pandas can be dangerous if you get them angry.

About The Great Pandas

Description

Giant pandas get frequently covered in black and white fur all over their bodies. This color aids them in camouflaging as they live in a habitat characterized by snow and rocks. Their eye patches also serve as a means of identification because they recognize each other with them.

These creatures are about 1.2 to 1.9 meters long, which helps them when attacking humans. Their weight is also an advantage, as it ranges from 70kg (the weight of smaller pandas) to 115kg (the weight of giant pandas). Their body shape is similar to that of bears, and they have large molars with increased complexity.

Furthermore, their canines have a force of 2603.47 newtons, which is extremely dangerous when attacking humans. Their paws have a thumb and five fingers, which give them flexibility and grip. It also aids them in grabbing food substances such as bamboo, allowing them to eat.

Furthermore, pandas can live for up to 20 years in their natural habitat and 30 years in captivity. Further research got carried out on Jin Yi to determine a panda’s genomics and pathology. A seven-year-old female died in 2014 after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis and respiratory disease. Toxoplasmosis killed the panda, and its genome got discovered to have 20 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes.

Behavior

Because pandas are terrestrial animals, they exhibit a variety of behaviors that correspond to their descriptions. The majority of the time, they can be seen roaming around and feeding. They are also solitary because adults frequently have territories.

Their social life gets primarily concentrated during the breeding season. During this season, they mate and then leave the females to raise the newly born cub. Pandas are only active twice a day, at dawn and dusk.

Furthermore, the amount of sunlight they receive, particularly on colder days, influences their activity level. Every creature has a unique mode of communication. Pandas communicate through vocalization and scent production, which includes clawing trees and spraying urine.

They can climb trees and rocks, but because they don’t have permanent habitats, they can’t hibernate. These creatures rely on spatial memory as well. They frequently seek refuge under horse manure to avoid freezing temperatures.

Moreover, when giant pandas reach the ages of 4 or 8, they begin to mature sexually. They lose their reproductive ability when they reach the age of 20. You will see pandas mating between March and May when the female pandas begin estrus. Estrus is a condition that lasts up to three days and occurs once a year.

A copulation between pandas typically lasts 30 seconds but can last up to five minutes. During the copulation period, the male continuously mounts on the female to ensure successful fertilization. Furthermore, the gestation period of pandas ranges from 95 to 165 days.

It is because the fertilized egg remains in the reproductive system for some time. Pandas can give birth to twins. If this occurs, one of the cubs survives while the other die because the mother cannot produce milk for both cubs.

Human Interaction And Use

People thought Pandas to be a noble and possibly extinct creatures with no medical value. Individuals may use panda urine to melt swallowed needles. Therefore, panda pelts can regulate menstruation.

Pandas were discovered in the West Indies in 1869 when a Frenchman received panda skin from one of the hunters. Kermit and Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. got credited with killing a panda. Other people, such as Ruth Harkness, are credited with bringing a live panda. Therefore it initiated the interaction between man and panda.

As a result, pandas began to be kept in zoos in China during the Western Han Dynasty period. Humans recognized the significance of pandas and how reassured they can be in terms of exotic animal categories. Before taming these creatures, pandas were given as gifts to people as a form of appreciation.

However, China later began to loan pandas on a 10-year loan contract for $ 1 million per year. Moreover, any cub born during the loan period belonged to China. Furthermore, the country began to offer a breeding pair to other countries, including Taiwan.

People use pandas in the production of biofuels derived from other plant species and bamboo. Poachers have threatened the existence of pandas for many years because they are so valuable to humans.

Cases Of Giant Panda Attacks

Three significant cases in recent years have demonstrated how dangerous giant pandas can be. First, a 28-year-old man got attacked by a giant panda while visiting the Beijing City Zoo. The tourist’s zoo, Zhang XX, is where the man got attacked on September 19, 2006.

He got attacked when he jumped into the den where the panda was to impress his companion. When the giant panda caught up to him, he bit his right calf. The individual sustained an injury, for which he got diagnosed, as well as skin defects.

In addition, the victim got a tetanus antitoxin injection. In addition, he also got a debridement procedure at nearly midnight. The area where the victim got bitten became irregular and covered in tiny wounds. It indicated how the individual fought the giant panda to save their life.

The victim had no charges with having a latissimus dorsi muscle flap performed with a skin graft. The latter diagnosis got done to protect skin defects for a week following the first debridement. This case demonstrates how giant pandas use their structures and body characteristics to attack humans. Therefore it makes them dangerous to the human species.

The second case got filed on January 7, 2009. It comes after a 32-year-old male named Zhang XX visited the same zoo in Beijing City Zoo. A giant panda attacked the young man after he accidentally fell into the panda’s enclosure. It is when the panda attacked the man and repeatedly bit his left calf.

When the victim got rushed to the hospital, medical personnel diagnosed an open injury and skin defects. The wound then got debrided up to three times while the medical specialist applied continuous vacuum-sealing drainage. Following that, the damage became stable and clean.

Furthermore, a latissimus dorsi muscle flap got performed on the victim without charge. It was to ensure the composited tissue defect was fully covered 12 days after the initial debridement.

On June 7, 2009, the third incident occurred when a 39-year-old male visited a different Beijing City Zoo known as Ma XX. A giant panda attacked the young man after he accidentally fell into the panda’s enclosure. The panda attacked the man, biting his left foot and right elbow joint.

The wound got debrided several times while the medical specialist applied continuous vacuum-sealing drainage to it. Furthermore, ten days after the debridement, a latissimus dorsi muscle flap was performed on the victim’s right elbow without any charges. It ensured that the composited tissue defect was fully covered. Following that, the individual received a free skin graft.

What Are Some Of The Pandas’ Predators?

When a panda becomes fully grown, it gains a lot of weight and becomes huge. Therefore it becomes more powerful to most of its prey. However, the panda cubs are the ones at risk since they lack a big body size. Potential predators killing and eating the panda cubs include jackals, yellow-throated martens, and snow leopards.

Can Pandas Fight Back?

Mostly pandas are peaceful and solitary animals. In most cases, they will avoid any confrontation. However, if escaping is impossible, then they will attack back. Pandas can fight back using their physical strength and strong teeth and jaw. Their large and strong teeth can deliver nasty bites that will leave you with injuries. Therefore do not go annoying pandas thinking they won’t retaliate and cause fatal attacks.

Conclusion

The giant panda has long been regarded as a dangerous zoo animal. Pandas rarely attack humans, no matter how docile they appear to be. It is also a prized animal among the Chinese because it provides the most benefits. However, Pandas can attack if they are enraged or terrified by humans. As a result, to avoid being attacked by these creatures, you must be cautious about handling them and how you behave around them.