She was rushed to an army hospital, but was not seriously injured. Officials at the center said the panda had reacted naturally to the surprise. The animal would continue its normal routine and would not be punished, they said. The rare bears, native to China and long revered, have become stars at the few zoos lucky enough to have them. But they can also be vicious.
Pandas have sharp teeth and powerful paws.
They have been known to become aggressive when surprised, challenged or when they sense their territory is being invaded. About 1,000 pandas still survive in the wild, scattered across forest fragments in southwest China as habitats shrink. The bears have become an international symbol of the global effort to save endangered species. The species is expected to become extinct by about 2040, barring a drastic change of events. But the births of four baby pandas at China's Chengdu Breeding and Research Center since September 1997 have scientists excited that they are making slow but steady progress in increasing the panda population.