The terrifying moment unfolded in front of an audience at the Chongqing Zoo in China
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Panda hunts zookeeper in China
A zookeeper who was quickly cleaning out a panda’s den in China found herself in a terrifying situation when the panda began chasing her.
The moment happened on the morning of September 19. Visitors to the Chongqing Zoo, located in the Jiulongpo District of Chongqing City, watched as the zookeeper entered the den but failed to close the door to the pandas’ indoor enclosure. When the video of the moment started, the 9-year-old panda, named DingDing, was also standing at the door.
The guard reached past DingDing in an attempt to hit and close the door. However, the door bounced open again and when the guard tried to close the door again, she seemed to frustrate the panda.
The keeper then walked to another side of the enclosure while DingDing remained standing at the door. When DingDing started to move, the keeper ran to the door, but the panda intercepted her and began to chase her around the den.
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Zookeeper tries to get away from panda in China
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Horrified zoogoers watched as DingDing cornered the worker and knocked her over. The panda jumped on her and began clawing at her as bystanders—and the zoo director himself—screamed. At one point, DingDing appeared to bite the woman’s arm as well.
After a moment, DingDing turned around, allowing the zookeeper to get up and leave.
According to reports, the zookeeper and the panda are both fine after the tense encounter.
Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Pandas at the Chongqing Zoo in Chongqing, China
A spokesperson for the Chongqing Zoo said they are investigating the matter and monitoring DingDing’s behavior to make sure the animal “is not stressed,” they told news organizations such as PEOPLE.
DingDing was born at the Chongqing Zoo in August 2015. The panda’s siblings, Yu Ke and Yu Ai, beat up the keepers there from April 2024. A colleague intervened and helped them get away.
According to the World Wildlife Fund“Giant pandas are solitary and peaceful animals that generally avoid confrontation, but if escape is not possible, they will certainly fight back.”
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Read the original article at People.