Among the eight bear species living on our planet, giant pandas are definitely the least terrifying. Over time, these black and white creatures have become the symbol of diplomacy and nature conservation efforts, being considered as the cutest members of the bear family. However, their adorable appearance does not mean that hugging them is a good idea, as this embrace attempt may not end as expected.
Giant pandas may look like toys, but they are actually quite large animals. When standing on all fours, their shoulder heights can reach up to 90 centimeters and they can weigh up to 113 kilograms. Although they are lighter compared to polar bears or brown bears, this weight is more than enough to injure a human. However, the real danger lies in their famous chewing capacity. The biting force in the canines of pandas is measured at around 1300 Newtons. This number places them just behind polar and brown bears in the bear species. Evolved to break tough bamboo stems all day, flat teeth and strong jaws of pandas can cause serious harm to human tissue.
The truths behind zoo fences
Although there is no recorded case of a “panda killing a human,” attacks are not as impossible as we think. Three different incidents that occurred at the Beijing Zoo between 2006 and 2009 demonstrated what these gentle giants could do when they feel threatened. For instance, an overly drunk visitor jumping over the fences to pet a panda ended in a tragedy. A panda named Gu Gu fiercely bit the man’s right thigh, and the unfortunate man was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.
In a similar incident, another man who entered the cage to retrieve his son’s toy (or claimed to have fallen into it) once again became Gu Gu’s target. According to the news, it was necessary to force open the jaws to save the bitten thigh of the man. The injured man underwent multiple tissue cleansing operations against the risk of infection. In the third case, a person who fell into the cage had to undergo skin transplant surgery due to injuries to the foot and elbow. Researchers say that these three incidents all taught a common lesson: While they are normally very gentle, they remind people very harshly that they belong to the bear family when they are frightened or provoked.
In the wild, pandas almost never attack humans because they prefer to stay away from them. However, it is known that they can become very aggressive when fighting over territory or mates. In short, no matter how strong the desire to touch the soft fur of a panda is, it is essential to remember that behind that cute face lies one of the most powerful jaws in nature.
