(Photo/Sina Weibo)

Taiyuan Zoo in northern China’s Shanxi province has pledged to clean up its act after angry visitors discovered a giant panda feasting on garbage thrown into the den by tourists.

According to photos uploaded online, the giant panda can be seen sitting near what appeared to be a banana, a pouch of milk, a water bottle and cookies. In some photos, the panda looked like it was eating the food off the ground.

“Taiyuan Zoo does not deserve any giant pandas! I don’t know if it’s Gonggong or Shunshun [names of giant pandas] that is eating the garbage from tourists … Even worse, there is no superintendent or animal keeper at the scene,” wrote the netizen that posted the photos on Sina Weibo on Oct. 5. Many others were upset by the photos, expressing their additional concern for animals that are not as well protected and treasured as giant pandas.

(Photo/Sina Weibo)

According to China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas, Gonggong and Shunshun were born in the center in 2013 and sent to the zoo in 2015. The center immediately contacted the zoo and demanded an explanation for the alleged garbage-eating incident. It confirmed on its Weibo on Oct. 6.

The center later published a reply from the zoo, which admitted to the event and identified Shunshun as the animal in the photo. The zoo vowed to increase its number of animal keepers and security staff to prevent anything similar from happening again.

The zoo explained that more than 15,000 tourists came to the zoo on Oct. 5, and some of that number apparently threw food into the giant panda den. The animals were eventually brought inside their glass exhibition room for protection.

“The photos on Weibo were taken before Shunshun was transferred inside,” the zoo said, adding that the two giant pandas are currently in good health. 

(Photo/Sina Weibo)