Villager encounters wild giant panda while checking cattle in Sichuan

(ECNS) -- A villager encountered a wild giant panda by a river while heading up a mountain to check on his cattle in Baoxing County, Ya'an, Sichuan Province, on Saturday.

Gao Xuanqiang, a resident of Zhonggang Village in Longdong Township, said he was on his way to check on his cattle when he came across the panda by the river.

Gao initially thought the animal was preparing to cross the river. However, the panda did not appear to be in a hurry to cross and instead kept looking into the water, he said.

Zheng Congjun, a senior engineer with the forestry bureau of Baoxing County, said footage filmed by the villager showed the adult wild giant panda with healthy-looking fur and agile movements, suggesting it was in good health.

If the panda had wanted to cross the river, it could have done so easily in just a few steps, Zheng said. Its repeated pacing along the riverbank and peering into the water suggested it was likely trying to retrieve something to eat, he added.

In recent years, Baoxing County, a core giant panda habitat in Ya'an, has leveraged its panda resources to develop panda-themed eco-tourism featuring study tours and homestays.

(By Zhang Dongfang)