新浪微博
腾讯微博
微信
QQ空间
QQ好友
手机阅读分享话题

West China

Camera captures wild giant pandas urinating to attract spouses in China's nature reserve

2020-09-04 09:23:49

LANZHOU, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- An infrared camera in a nature reserve in northwest China's Gansu Province has captured wild pandas urinating on a tree to attract spouses.

Video footage showed the giant pandas, which were believed to be two different ones, peeing onto the same tree as they supported themselves with their forelegs respectively on March 28 and April 4 at the Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve, said He Liwen, an official with the administration of the reserve.

The moves of the giant pandas were identical: sniffing near the tree root first, turning their backs to the trunk, standing with forelegs and then leaning onto the trunk with one of their rear legs before urinating and leaving, He said.

Giant pandas are frequently spotted making such moves to mark their territory and attract spouses, and supporting themselves with their forelegs to leave urine trail at a higher point.

"They like to leave higher urine marks to prove they are stronger," he said.

Located in the southern part of Gansu, the Baishuijiang reserve is home to many rare animal species, including giant pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys and takins.

The reserve has more than 180 infrared cameras installed, which shot over 2,000 video clips and 10,000 photos in the first quarter of this year.

The fourth national giant panda census, released in 2015, showed that Gansu had 132 wild giant pandas, of which 110 lived in the Baishuijiang reserve. Enditem

Editor:Jiang Yiwei