Fighting panda extinction

Well, it looks as if the evolutionary dead-enders known as pandas can still fight back. Now, if they can just breed as well as they brawl.

Zhang Xinyan, from the central province of Henan, drank four jugs of beer at a restaurant near the zoo before visiting Gu Gu the panda on Tuesday, the Beijing Morning Post said.

“He felt a sudden urge to touch the panda with his hand,” and jumped into the enclosure, the newspaper said.

The panda, who was asleep, was startled and bit Zhang, 35, on the right leg, it said. Zhang got angry and kicked the panda, who then bit his other leg. A tussle ensued, the paper said.

“I bit the fellow in the back,” Zhang was quoted as saying in the newspaper. “Its skin was quite thick.” ...

“No one ever said they would bite people,” Zhang said. “I just wanted to touch it. I was so dizzy from the beer. I don’t remember much.” [emphasis added]

Sounds like them cute, cuddly creatures got sharp teeth.

Oh, and by they way, this story illustrates the danger of athropomorphizing wild animals too much: people forget that they are wild and that they will attack you and kill you if the need arises. And, it doesn't matter how much you love them.

Remember what happened to Steve Irwin.