By: Gang Mingdong
Translated from Chinese by: Meg Xu
I work at the Taohuayuan Laohegou Protected Area. Because of my many encounters with pandas and the interesting stories that have unfolded, people have given me the nickname: Panda Bodyguard.
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The 20cm Encounter
The most thrilling encounter I’ve had might be hard to believe—I once came within 20 centimeters of a wild panda. Many people have only seen pandas in zoos, where they appear cute and harmless. But I can tell you firsthand: wild pandas can be dangerous. I’ve actually been bitten by one.
It happened on June 28, 2022. My colleagues and I were patrolling Dicao Gully, an area where pandas had been spotted before. During our patrol, we noticed panda droppings, and as we passed through a bamboo forest, I had a strong feeling: there must be a panda nearby.
At first, the bamboo was dense, but as we crossed a ridge, we found fresh signs of panda feeding. The temperature was high that day, and based on the condition of the bamboo leaves, we guessed the panda had eaten there that morning. As we continued, we found more fresh droppings. The increasing signs of panda activity filled me with anticipation. While walking along a fallen tree, I suddenly heard a loud "bark." I looked down and saw a panda right at my feet!
In a split second, the wild panda, driven by instinct, turned and bit at me. My leg was just 20 centimeters from its mouth. I turned and ran. This was my first time seeing a wild panda. Up until that moment, I, like many others, thought of pandas as cute and harmless—basically, just big teddy bears. But when it turned and bit at me, I realized: this is a bear.
After putting some distance between us, I stood there, trembling uncontrollably for two minutes. It dawned on me that the panda hadn’t noticed me approaching. It had been napping and was startled by my sudden presence. Later, we heard it moving away, likely deciding we weren’t a threat.
Afterward, I asked my colleagues if they had captured the moment on video. Sadly, they hadn’t, which left me a bit disappointed.
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The 5m Encounter
Another memorable encounter happened in March 2022, during the panda mating season. We organized a monitoring operation, analyzing areas where infrared cameras had captured the most panda activity over the past decade. We set out to one of these hotspots, located in the cypress forests of Laohegou.
However, the weather turned bad. Halfway through, it started snowing, and we were stranded at a campsite. The next day, the weather worsened. At night, strong winds nearly blew our tents over. Around 9 p.m., I caught a distinct wildlife scent, similar to that of a Takin (a national first-class protected animal). I’m quite sensitive to these smells and was almost certain an animal had passed by.
At the time, we were cooking at the campsite. My colleagues, Li Wei and Tang Wei, had gone out to photograph birds but returned after just five minutes. They said the infrared camera had captured a panda passing near our camp. Skeptical, I asked to see the footage. Sure enough, the camera showed a panda walking by around 9 p.m.
We immediately began tracking and found panda footprints, confirming it had passed right by our tents. The scent I had noticed earlier was indeed from a wild panda.
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The 10m Encounter
Buoyed by this experience, we set out early the next morning to find the panda. Our team of four split into two groups. I paired up with Wang Lei to search the cypress forests.
Around 1 p.m., while passing through a dense bamboo grove, we noticed freshly chewed bamboo stalks by the roadside. Slowing our pace, we ventured deeper into the forest.
Suddenly, we heard a low grunt. It was a sound I’d never heard before, but my instincts told me it was a panda. Excited, we knew we couldn’t miss this opportunity. I grabbed my DSLR camera and started filming.
As we took a few steps forward, the panda began to vocalize. Wang Lei and I were thrilled—it sounded exactly like the panda calls we’d heard on TV. The excitement was indescribable. Spotting a wild panda is incredibly rare, and here we were, just 10 meters away.
However, the panda noticed us and let out a terrifying roar. We immediately retreated and climbed a nearby ridge to continue filming. The panda also moved to the ridge above us. While we could pinpoint its location, we decided not to approach further for safety reasons. Although we didn’t capture it on camera, we recorded its calls and identified its mating-marking location.
These are my three wild encounters with giant pandas—20 centimeters, 5 meters, and 10 meters.
I believe that as I continue to hone my skills and thoroughly explore these mountains, one day I’ll achieve a true zero-distance encounter with a wild panda.
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