Researchers at CCRCGP’s Hetaoping (Wolong) base wear panda costumes to help cubs adapt to living in the wild. Two pandas have been released under this program (one in 2012 and one last year) and at least two more giant pandas are going to be released into the wild later this year.
While mothers in the program have been cared for by humans, program cubs are raised solely by the mothers without human intervention. To prevent the panda cubs from becoming dependent on humans, the trainers wear panda costumes during any interactions.
One trainer said the panda cubs have never touched any humans, and they do not behave like their mothers. The cubs stay away from humans, and the trainers want to keep it that way. The trainers want to help the captive-bred cubs to integrate with wild pandas and contribute to genetic diversity of the pandas in the wild.
