Lifetime Bans Issued for Misbehavior at Chengdu Panda Base
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China has issued lifetime bans to twelve tourists aged 26 to 61 for engaging in inappropriate behavior around the pandas. According to an official post on the base's WeChat account, these individuals were apprehended between April and June this year for actions such as throwing bamboo shoots, lollipop sticks, cigarettes, eggs, and bread, as well as spitting into the panda play area. Despite these incidents, the pandas remain healthy.
The Chengdu Research Base, located in Sichuan province, is a leading research and conservation facility known for recreating the pandas’ natural habitat. It has extensive guidelines on visitor conduct to ensure the safety of both animals and guests, with penalties ranging from warnings to permanent bans.
Established in 1987, the center aims to be a top-tier research facility and educational tourism destination. While there, scientists often go to great lengths, such as wearing panda costumes sprayed with panda urine, to minimize human impact on the animals. The World Wildlife Fund currently classifies giant pandas as "vulnerable," with around 1,800 individuals remaining in the wild.