Panda Updates – Monday, March 11

Despite their laid-back lifestyles and calm behavior, the giant pandas remind us each and every day that they are indeed bears. We treat them with such respect, and our care for them reflects that. We also work with the giant pandas, and all other large, potentially dangerous animals at the Zoo, through a protective barrier. It’s safest for the care teams and the animals that we care for. No matter how “cute” and fluffy they may look, giant pandas pack a very strong bite and have one of the strongest bite forces of any terrestrial carnivore. Our Bamboo Team here at the Zoo cut us some thick bamboo culms to feed out because the giant pandas are all very interested in culming bamboo right now. Check out Zoo Atlanta Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for a video of Lun Lun crunching through a culm that was about five inches across. If you’ve ever worked with bamboo, you know that it’s a difficult plant that often fights back, but the pandas make light work of it every day.
Danica W.
Keeper I, Mammals