Brown Giant Pandas Seen for 1st Time in 6 Years
After six years in the shadows, a rare panda has been caught on camera in China.
The slow stroll of what appears to be a mother and baby panda was seen on surveillance video
in the Chongqing National Nature Reserve, and before you check, there's nothing wrong with
the color on your screen. Rather than the cuddly-looking black and white pandas most
people are used to, these pandas are dark brown and light brown. This rare breed,
called the Qinling Giant Panda, was just recognized in 2005 after being photographed
for the first time in 1985. According to the Journal of Mammalogy, beyond the difference
in color, the brown pandas are also slightly smaller than their black and white cousins
and have less fur. Their bamboo diet and behavior is the same as the typical giant panda.
Just the sight of this pair has animal experts excited. The camera-shy Qinling Giant Panda hasn't
been seen in this area since 2018. So far, they've only been found in the Qinling Mountains,
living at high altitudes over 4,000 feet. Estimates say there are anywhere from 200
to 300 brown pandas in the wild. For Inside Edition Digital, I'm T.C. Newman.