Guo Jingpeng, a keeper, introduces the situation to reporters. |
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding said on July 27 that its zoo keepers meant no harm when they were handling panda cubs days earlier.
On July 12, a video of three panda keepers treating some panda cubs roughly was uploaded on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter. The poster “Yixilan” called the panda keepers “rude” and said the cubs were repeatedly tossed to the ground.
The video quickly went viral. Many Chinese netizens were angry and criticized thee keepers’ treatment of the animals, calling their behavior “unacceptable” and “brutal.”
Injuries on a keeper's hand
A director of the panda base said the three keepers meant no harm when they were dealing with the cubs, but their movements were too forceful and quick.
The video clip circulated online only highlighted the keepers’ aggressive actions and did not show the injuries they incurred on their hands and legs during the process, the director explained. One of the keepers had to go to a local hospital to get three doses of the rabies vaccine that day.
The panda base said it had reprimanded the three handlers and trained all panda keepers on how to deal with the animals gently when in a similar situation.