An Update On Tao Tao
/ Post by Pandas International
Tao Tao, the 2-year-old male panda released into the Lipingzi Nature Reserve in southwestern China, appears to be adapting well to his new home. Researchers and trackers with the reintroduction program say that he is feeding well and appears healthy and vital. Scientists are monitoring the bear with GPS supplied by Pandas International. Like many following Tao Tao’s story, we eagerly await news of how the cub is doing.
The news we received this week was good for the cub that went through a boot camp of sorts. Tao Tao was raised in isolation by his mother with little interaction with humans (and even then they were disguised in panda suits). Researchers at the Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong realized that the best time to teach a panda new tricks seems to be during the cub years. Hemin Zhang, director of the CCRCGP and his team, including Jianguo “Jack” Liu of Michigan State University, taught momma pandas how to relay crucial survival skills — foraging and avoiding predators — to their cubs. So far, their approach appears to have been successful as Tao Tao is using his mother-taught skills in the wild.
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