Qianlingshan Park zookeeper cares for giant pandas

Qianlingshan Park in Guiyang's Yunyan district captivated visitors during the summer peak with the zoo's star attractions, the giant pandas Xingbao and Haibang.

At 9 am, as visitors trickled into the park's zoo, Li Da, head of the giant panda enclosure, and volunteers had been busy for quite some time.

Xingbao sits next to a birthday cake and eats bamboo. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Since 2016, Li has worked as a frontline keeper in the zoo's predator and small mammal areas. In April 2018, Xingbao and Haibang traveled from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to their new Guiyang home. This marked the start of Li's role as a devoted caregiver, dedicating most of his time to the two giant pandas.

Every morning around 8 am, Li prepares the main diet of bamboo and supplements for Xingbao and Haibang. The pandas consume 300 kilograms of bamboo daily, with each panda averaging 150 kg.

Every day, Li Da records details of the giant pandas. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Every day, Li prepares two apples and a specially formulated steamed bun containing honey to ensure the pandas receive a balanced and comprehensive diet.

Li meticulously designs and constructs the pandas' living areas to simulate a natural foraging environment, allowing them to move freely, explore, and rest.

Li carefully observes the pandas' physical and mental states in his daily work, monitoring their mood, appetite, and activity levels.

Under the attentive care of Li and his colleagues, Xingbao and Haibang have grown from their initial weights of 110 kg and 108 kg, respectively, to their current sizes of 130 kg and 118 kg.