A zookeeper at Chongqing Zoo was attacked by a panda after attempting to block it from entering a staff area, though she escaped unharmed after a brief struggle.
According to a video posted on Douyin, the panda was walking towards an open door that led to the staff panel.
The zookeeper quickly shut the door to stop it, but accidentally knocked the panda’s arm, startling it with the loud noise.
Panda knock the zookeeper to the ground
The panda chased her around the enclosure, eventually knocking her to the ground during the pursuit.
At certain moments, the panda even climbed onto her, without behaving too aggressive, and did not make any serious attempts to harm her.
In the background of the video, visitors can be heard reminding others to stay calm and avoid shouting, likely to prevent further startling the animal.
Panda appeared remorseful afterward
Some online comments noted that the panda, Ding Ding’s, claws were retracted, and the panda appeared remorseful afterward, sitting quietly as if it knew it had done something wrong.
A Chongqing Zoo staff member mentioned that the incident is under investigation, and both the panda and the zookeeper are being taken care of to ensure their well-being.
Not the first case
Notably, a similar incident occurred at the zoo in April this year.
On April 23, after setting out food, a zookeeper was chased and knocked over by two pandas named Yu Ke and Yu Ai.
Fortunately, neither the zookeeper nor the pandas were harmed. Following that incident, the zoo held a safety meeting to review the event and implement stricter procedures to prevent future occurrences.
As of July 30, according to Chongqing Daily, Chongqing Zoo is home to the largest number of giant pandas in any urban zoo across China, with 23 pandas.
The panda exhibit has undergone three expansions, now covering nearly 20,000 square meters, making it one of the earliest giant panda breeding bases in the country.
