Fruit sedatives for pandas
By Hayley Birch
Chinese vets are no longer giving pandas anaesthesia to help them cope with the trauma of health check ups. They’re giving them apples instead.Pandas are by no means the most ferocious of beasts, but those in captivity have, on occasion, been known to attack humans. Stick a needle in a panda for instance, and you’ll know about it. And at up to 150kg, you wouldn’t want to mess with one.
Apparently the method has been in use since 2005, with 95% of the reserve’s pandas now receiving apples instead of anaesthetic.
More panda treats:It is a common mistake to think that pandas only eat bamboo. Yes, most of their diet is made up of the spiky stuff, but they are in fact carnivores and wild pandas have been found feasting on dead animal flesh.
Giant pandas can consume up to 19kg of bamboo leaves every day.
To fit in with our current Sci-Pop theme, why not check out Golden Panda Party on MySpace?
Panda quiz at WWF.
More science laid bear on Hayley's page.
And if you liked this, why not take a look at:
- Strange - More fruit-based science
- Straight - The truth about bananas
- News - Pandamonium
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