The best basket in China

May 18, 2016 6:26 AM

A brave woman valiantly attempts to prevent panda bears from climbing into a basket of leaves while she rakes.
posted by ChuraChura (56 comments total)

Those pandas have a very poor work ethic. Do they think they will coast through life on cuteness alone?

...they probably do.

...and they are probably correct.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:31 AM on May 18, 2016 [15 favorites]

I like to imagine that this is just what yard work is like in China on a day-to-day basis.
posted by beerperson at 6:35 AM on May 18, 2016 [40 favorites]

this has made me the happiest person ever

thank you
posted by Kitteh at 6:37 AM on May 18, 2016 [5 favorites]

Well, this is better than the election thread!
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:46 AM on May 18, 2016 [7 favorites]

Someone needs to get those pandas a basket of their own
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 6:48 AM on May 18, 2016 [8 favorites]

ChuraChura sure knows how to panda-er to MetaFilter's interests.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:48 AM on May 18, 2016 [5 favorites]

I think she needs one more basket than she has pandas.

What a great workout!
posted by Elly Vortex at 6:49 AM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

I'm sitting outside a doctor's office crying with laughter while people come and go staring at me, but I have no regrets.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:49 AM on May 18, 2016 [9 favorites]

More careers my stupid guidance counsellor never told me about.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:49 AM on May 18, 2016 [52 favorites]

My only criticism of this video is that it isn't, like, 3 hours longer.
posted by metaBugs at 6:58 AM on May 18, 2016 [6 favorites]

I feel like this happens to me every time I clean. It's just that my pandas are invisible.
posted by neroli at 7:16 AM on May 18, 2016 [16 favorites]

Yeah, that woman has some core strength, all right. Look at her picking up those pandas! I'm not sure I could pick up those pandas that easily, and I lift weights.
posted by Frowner at 7:17 AM on May 18, 2016 [3 favorites]

Weights that are not pandas, I mean.
posted by Frowner at 7:17 AM on May 18, 2016 [23 favorites]

Those pandas have a very poor work ethic. Do they think they will coast through life on cuteness alone?

Yes.
posted by these are science wands at 7:19 AM on May 18, 2016 [4 favorites]

I thought it was difficult to make a bed while cats try to help. Clearly I know nothing.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:26 AM on May 18, 2016 [8 favorites]

What majestic animals.
posted by biogeo at 7:37 AM on May 18, 2016 [13 favorites]

You do not need to know a single word of Chinese to know exactly what she's saying.
posted by scalefree at 7:39 AM on May 18, 2016 [14 favorites]

Little known fact - that's actually a very rare species of comedic panda, known scientifically as Ailuropoda comedica.
posted by bologna on wry at 7:39 AM on May 18, 2016 [4 favorites]

The cynical part of me wonders if she dipped her tools in panda urine or something before going in there to encourage them to put on a good show. Either way, though, it was pretty adorable, and the pandas were clearly having a good time. Who knew a human raking leaves could be such good behavioral enrichment for zoo pandas.
posted by biogeo at 7:41 AM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

I am so clueless, I did not realize this was a zoo until the end. Like beerperson above, I thought this was yardwork in a part of China where Pandas wander free. I sort of have that impression with koala bears in Australia so if that is not the case, I really need to re-calibrate my understanding of reality.

Regardless, these Pandas sure are cute.
posted by AugustWest at 8:09 AM on May 18, 2016 [4 favorites]

The cynical part of me wonders if she dipped her tools in panda urine or something before going in there to encourage them to put on a good show.

Yes, that is pretty cynical. There are plenty of legitimate reasons why she might have dipped her tools in panda urine.
posted by Atom Eyes at 8:15 AM on May 18, 2016 [26 favorites]

Yeah, that woman has some core strength, all right. Look at her picking up those pandas! I'm not sure I could pick up those pandas that easily, and I lift weights.

For reference: What bear can you lift? Panda weighs in at 250, though I don't know if these specific pandas do. And I imagine bouncering these guys around is a somewhat different activity from deadlifting the equivalent weight, which is hard to account for. I suggest testing your panda moving skills on real pandas instead of trying to extrapolate from your 1RM on any given exercise, if possible.
posted by Gymnopedist at 8:30 AM on May 18, 2016 [3 favorites]

Awww, this is what it's like when I try to make my bed when both the cats are in my bedroom.
posted by hollygoheavy at 8:35 AM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

Huh. So baskets are to pandas what boxes are to cats. Who knew?
posted by mudpuppie at 8:35 AM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

So this is adorable but I still can't help but feeling zoos are basically prisons for animals. This may be the most interesting thing to happen to these pandas all month. Sorry to be a downer.
posted by Nelson at 8:37 AM on May 18, 2016

I hear you about the zoo but pandas in the wild sleep and eat and sleep and eat and sleep and eat.... so I'm not sure they feel the call of the wild too strongly.
posted by rdr at 8:41 AM on May 18, 2016 [5 favorites]

That is the best video ever. Thank you!
posted by languagehat at 8:48 AM on May 18, 2016

Zoos - especially places like this one, which I believe is in Chengdu - are not actually terrible places! The pandas at this facility are really important for research on panda reproduction and conservation. Zoos are heavily involved in both in situ and ex situ conservation. The research and conservation focus on charismatic megafauna like pandas have an added-on effect of helping to conserve other organisms in their habitats. Zoos raise funds for conservation efforts. Zoos provide significant amounts of enrichment for their animals. Zookeepers care deeply for their animals. Zoos provide educational benefits for interested visitors and research opportunities for scientists (like me. I work with zoos to conduct research on primate reproduction which informs my research on wild primates). Zoos are not the bad guys in a world of decreasing habitat, conservation funding, and increased pressure on wild animals.
posted by ChuraChura at 9:02 AM on May 18, 2016 [39 favorites]

Can I make a panda by gluing Keeshond puppies together? Asking for a friend.
posted by Panthalassa at 9:03 AM on May 18, 2016 [7 favorites]

Also, if there's any organism that the world makes sure is treated well in captivity, it is pandas. The Chinese government makes so much money off of zoo pandas around the world, and making sure that tourists see happy, healthy pandas when they visit is a priority. Don't worry about the pandas. They're doing fine.
posted by ChuraChura at 9:04 AM on May 18, 2016 [3 favorites]

At some point I started wondering if these videos with pandas and their unflapable human keepers aren't somehow elaborately rehearsed and incredibly well timed comedy routines. Because it's classic Lucille Ball material.

That said, those humans are living the life!
posted by ezust at 9:16 AM on May 18, 2016

Nooooooo iz my baskitt
posted by petebest at 9:22 AM on May 18, 2016 [7 favorites]

The Chinese government makes so much money off of zoo pandas around the world

China is now the world's largest panda-based economy
posted by beerperson at 9:26 AM on May 18, 2016 [11 favorites]

Pandas are the worst! I don't like how cute they are. They have completely manipulated humans with their cuteness so that we have essentially become panda slaves. Think about it. They eat a highly specialised diet and they don't even know how to sex. How are they still around!? How much resources have been spent on panda conservation when they won't even meet us halfway?? Because they're Cute! That's the only reason they exist and we've fallen for it! They. Are. The. Worst.

I am partially serious about this.
posted by like_neon at 9:55 AM on May 18, 2016 [12 favorites]

This has improved my day/week/month/life so incredibly much. The part at 2'37" where the panda fiiiinally gets allllll the way into the basket and for a moment, all you can see is a mound of floof... perfection. Thank you, ChuraChura!
posted by amnesia and magnets at 10:01 AM on May 18, 2016 [4 favorites]

Jacque Marshall on weasel help.
posted by Bruce H. at 11:33 AM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

I do think this is somewhat deliberate, as they obviously could put the pandas inside while cleaning up, but I think it's harmless and fun -- it works as enrichment for the pandas and amusement for the onlookers and the worker doesn't really look particularly put out.
posted by tavella at 12:01 PM on May 18, 2016 [4 favorites]

Agree with Tavella - its a great little video and it sounds like there is an audience, too, who is enjoying it - so its a win win.

Its possible there is a bit of a favorite panda treat in there, too, or a panda catnip type substance. Either way - its adorable and a real stress reliever for we non-pandas.

I would love to have that job - like the catcher in the rye - the leaf raker with the baby pandas.
posted by Tullyogallaghan at 12:07 PM on May 18, 2016

Oh my god, that was the highlight of my day. Now, HOW DO I GET THAT JOB??!!??!!??
posted by lemonade at 2:59 PM on May 18, 2016

I don't have children. This is what I always imagined having children would be like.

Great video.
posted by cwest at 3:12 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

When the panda is curled up and enjoying a little basket loop-de-loop is like the most painfully cute thing ever.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 3:55 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

Pandas are the worst! I don't like how cute they are.

Then you'll really hate red pandas.
posted by biogeo at 4:24 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

That mixture of helpless frustration mixed with adoration so perfectly captures the experience with my own daughters (2 and 4) it's almost creepy.
posted by smoke at 4:36 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

I don't have children. This is what I always imagined having children would be like.

I couldn't watch too much of this because it painfully reminded me of my evening trying to cook while keeping my newly mobile 8 month old out of all our yet-un-child proofed cabinets.

Pandas are super cute though.
posted by kellygrape at 5:14 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

The most sophisticated parasites convince you that you're happy to host them. At least that's what my brain slug said. I thought it was a pretty insightful comment.
posted by dephlogisticated at 5:37 PM on May 18, 2016 [3 favorites]

Someone needs to get those pandas a basket of their own


If my experience with kittens teaches us anything, the decoy basket/roll of toilet paper/work papers will be completely ignored in favor of [thing I don't want disturbed by Cute Animals].
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 5:46 PM on May 18, 2016

• cats::boxes
• pandas::baskets
• walruses::buckets

Come on, internet. Teach me more.
posted by maryr at 6:29 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

My takeaway from this -- and confirmed by comments here -- is that pandas are basically rounder, fluffier cats and since I have a one cat and multiple baskets I should go get a panada tonight, Friday at the latest.

Can I make a panda by gluing Keeshond puppies together? Asking for a friend.

Um, I'm pretty sure that how koalas are made. But thanks for reminding me to pick up some Keeshond puppies while I'm out.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:58 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

I do want to know what she's saying. Like is she calling them bad bad bad squishies or bearcats or floofs or lil snackies or giant poofs or pom poms or what.
posted by meemzi at 7:04 PM on May 18, 2016 [6 favorites]

No, no, this is a bearcat (and their urine smells like popcorn)!
posted by ChuraChura at 7:50 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

I kept waiting for the part where the Panda gets pissed off and turns on the woman.

I mean, I'm pretty sure Pandas could kill you, if they wanted to, right?
posted by anastasiav at 7:57 PM on May 18, 2016

Pretty much what it felt like managing a resident program. You are all adorable and silly, I love you very much, now don't break anything.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 10:41 PM on May 18, 2016

I mean, I'm pretty sure Pandas could kill you, if they wanted to, right?

wait.... What! WHAT!? Of course! ... Are you crazy!!? Yes, yes! ... Pandas can kill you!

Right now!!!

...

.... right now!
posted by krinklyfig at 3:09 AM on May 19, 2016

They still have bear claws and bear teeth, not having been bamboo specialists long enough to lose the carnivore armory. So an angry panda could still fuck you up... but mostly they are too lazy to care.
posted by tavella at 11:56 AM on May 19, 2016

Omg there are more videos. This one includes a Panda trying to be a Koala.
posted by poxandplague at 3:54 AM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

*Opens time keeping software, enters Client: Admin, Time 4.1 hours, Task: Watched Panda Videos*
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:51 AM on May 20, 2016 [5 favorites]