Earlier last week there were reports out of Beijing of a students hospitalization because of a Panda biting incident. Apparently the college student from Southern China just needed a hug. While visiting the zoo in Beijing the unnamed student jumped the six and a half foot tall fence surrounding the Panda habitat to hug one of the fluffy cuddly creatures only to find that they’re not so cuddly after all. The panda bit the student repeatedly on the arms and legs reports a zoo employee.
The official Xinhua News Agency reports the hospitalized student later said the panda was so cute and cuddly he never expected to be bitten. Guess he’ll think twice next time before jumping into a penned up animals home. Domesticated as they may be they’re still animals, and uh… well they still bite.
Surprisingly enough this is not the first time these Panda’s have struck fear into the hearts of the Beijing populous. Not surprising because pandas look so cute and cuddly I’d never suspect them of biting anyone. Pandas may look docile but can be vicious when they feel threatened. But surprising because this is not the second, but third time these pandas have bitten visiting tourists. The first attack was… well more of an attack from a drunken tourist who stumbled into the Pandas enclosure, after being bitten by the Panda the man reportedly bit back. The same Panda Gu Gu later in 2007 mauled a 15 year old boy who climbed the 1.4 meter (approx four and a half foot) tall fence. The fence had been raised to six and a half feet, but that still didn’t stop this college student who just wanted a hug and was viciously bitten on the arms and legs on November 22, 2008. The panda in this incident was named Yang Yang… and was not as ferocious with his attacks as Gu Gu was. I think we can all learn a lesson here though, no matter how cute, fuzzy, and warm a panda may appear to be… don’t look to them for a hug. You might pick something less vicious than a panda bear such as a Bengal Tiger… At least the death would be a quicker one than being gnawed upon by a vegetarian bear. On second thought, if you’re really that depressed go see someone for counseling, get a dog, or sign up for a dating site 
Wild animals don’t tend to be the best option for your affectionate needs.
