China’s Panda Breeding Center Bans 12 Tourists for Life Over Misbehavior
Twelve tourists have received lifetime bans from China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for inappropriate behavior around the animals. The bans were issued to visitors aged between 26 and 61, as announced on the Research Base’s official WeChat account.
These visitors were reportedly caught throwing various items, including bamboo shoots, lollipop sticks, cigarettes, eggs, and bread, and spitting into the panda enclosures. Despite these actions, all pandas at the facility are reportedly fine and healthy.
The identities and nationalities of the banned individuals have not been disclosed. The incidents occurred separately between April and June of this year, rather than as part of a coordinated group effort.
The Chengdu Research Base is a prominent tourist destination in Sichuan province, known for its efforts in giant panda conservation and research. The facility's website provides detailed guidelines for visitors, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment for the animals. These guidelines prohibit littering, spitting, and throwing food into the animal enclosures.
Violations of these rules can result in a range of penalties, from warnings and education to temporary or permanent bans from the park. The strict enforcement of these rules underscores the center's commitment to the safety and well-being of its pandas.
Established in 1987, the Chengdu Research Base aims to be a world-class facility for panda research, conservation education, and tourism. The center replicates the natural habitat of giant pandas to promote their well-being and facilitate scientific study. Conservation efforts at the base are extensive, including measures like researchers wearing panda costumes sprayed with panda urine to minimize human-animal interaction.
The giant panda's status was upgraded from "endangered" to "vulnerable" by the World Wildlife Fund in 2018, with approximately 1,800 pandas currently living in the wild.
