Researchers dressed as pandas. Researchers dressed as pandas. RESEARCHERS DRESSED AS PANDAS.
December 8, 2010 3:27 PM   Subscribe

 
"The dressing up is just not for fun, say scientists, but an essential part of China's ambitious strategy to reintroduce captive-bred Giant Pandas back into the wild."

(emphasis added.)
posted by granted at 3:28 PM on December 8, 2010 [4 favorites]


Oh fuck, that researcher photo will be in my nightmares for the next week. Thanks!
posted by mathowie at 3:30 PM on December 8, 2010 [4 favorites]


Earlier attempts at reintroducing captive-bred pandas to the wild ended in disaster in 2006 when Xiang Xiang, a male cub who was supposedly trained to adapt to life in the wild, was found dead 10 months later, apparently killed by other wild pandas.

Okay. Huh. Wild pandas are way more wild than I thought.
posted by dirigibleman at 3:33 PM on December 8, 2010


Wikileaks cable reveals panda research used as excuse for wearing panda suits.
posted by Joe Beese at 3:34 PM on December 8, 2010 [9 favorites]


It may look as if they have escaped from a Disney theme park or a children's party, but they have actually escaped from maximum security prisons and should be considered extremely dangerous.
posted by Wolfdog at 3:34 PM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


I keep looking for a "Apply Here" link, Why will no one hire me to dress like a panda and play with them?
posted by Felex at 3:38 PM on December 8, 2010


Oh, someone will, Felex. You might not like the work, but I guarantee you can get it.
posted by Wolfdog at 3:39 PM on December 8, 2010 [8 favorites]


Never say no to Panda!
posted by vidur at 3:44 PM on December 8, 2010 [4 favorites]


I was the back end of a horse at a stud ranch, once. I can acknowledge that now, thanks to my therapist.
posted by Capt. Renault at 3:48 PM on December 8, 2010 [4 favorites]


Related dress-up for baby animals: two-day old condor fed by hand puppet, and a larger picture of the puppet and baby.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:50 PM on December 8, 2010 [2 favorites]


The text of this FPP reads like the title of a True American Dog cartoon.
posted by brundlefly at 3:52 PM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


The day it becomes taboo to poke fun at furries is the day the internet dies.


I dunno, I think we've already crossed a dangerous threshold. I remember accidentally coming across the stuff during Lycos image searches early on, thinking to myself: "that shit is fucked up as an outboard canoe," and quickly closing the window and scrubbing my Netscape cache with steel wool.

The fact we have digressed to belittling and backhanded comments tells me we're nearing the day all taboos die.
posted by Bathtub Bobsled at 3:54 PM on December 8, 2010


I do this with my grandma. She thinks pandas know how to make coffee now.
posted by orme at 3:56 PM on December 8, 2010 [20 favorites]


Imagine my surprise when I found out that my parents were actually pandas in people costumes.
posted by esprit de l'escalier at 3:56 PM on December 8, 2010 [10 favorites]


I finally get the Human Behavior video.
posted by Beardman at 3:57 PM on December 8, 2010 [4 favorites]


"Is this where I sign up for the panda reintroduction program."
"Yes."
"Can I have an application?"
"You brought your own suit?"
"Yes. Is that a problem? What kind of benefits package do you have?"
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:58 PM on December 8, 2010 [6 favorites]


Simpsons did it.
posted by ErikaB at 4:05 PM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


Yeah, sure, but how many of you noticed the guy in the gorilla suit?
posted by Diagonalize at 4:09 PM on December 8, 2010 [8 favorites]


Oh fuck, that researcher photo will be in my nightmares for the next week. Thanks!

You got a problem with helping pandas, huh?
posted by peppito at 4:51 PM on December 8, 2010


LOLFURRIES
posted by Sys Rq at 4:54 PM on December 8, 2010


Penguin robot introduced to a colony of penguins - a wacky Japanese show, but it's a very amusing clip.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:24 PM on December 8, 2010


Any relation to Sad Panda?
posted by Scoop at 5:34 PM on December 8, 2010


Misplaced modifier, or comment on One Child policy?
Although notoriously fussy when it comes to mating, China has in recent years made great strides in its captive-breeding panda program, and this year attained the "magic 300" number of captive-bred animals, the target for starting to reintroduce them to the wild.
posted by gingerest at 5:35 PM on December 8, 2010


I keep wondering about the researchers' next jobs, specifically job interviews.

"And so tell me about your strengths, Researcher"
"I can blend in with pandas by wearing a giant panda suit! It was for science!"

"....."
posted by SaharaRose at 5:42 PM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


Are you sure this isn't the latest Flaming Lips video?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 5:55 PM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


Hide your panda cubs! PedoPanda is on the prowl.
posted by aGee at 5:56 PM on December 8, 2010


Needs a more in-depth explanation of panda sexercise classes.
posted by lukemeister at 6:22 PM on December 8, 2010


The penguin robot clip made me wonder if that would work with zombies. The possibilities!
posted by Iosephus at 6:33 PM on December 8, 2010


I saw a similar article yesterday in the Guardian. Today they ran a review of a BBC 1 program about panda breeding programs, which would have been funny enough having not seen the first article, but it does provide an extra and perhaps unintended context.

My favorite quotes (excuse the length) are:

To me, pandas always look like people dressed up as pandas, doing not very good panda impressions. They forget to crawl like pandas, and suddenly get up and walk off on two legs. Or they sit, like a fat man with bad posture, looking bored and waiting for someone to come and help them out of their panda suit.

And:

Some experts believe this project is the most colossal waste of conservation money ever, but it's hard to think like that while you're watching pandas at play, just as it's hard not to think that any minute they're all going to stop, pull their panda-heads off and light fags.

I will never look at pandas the same way.
posted by kaybdc at 6:40 PM on December 8, 2010


The penguin robot clip made me wonder if that would work with zombies.

Script!
posted by humannaire at 7:25 PM on December 8, 2010


I will favourite any FPP that depicts researchers in panda suits doing anything.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:32 PM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


"This suit is hot. Still, it is all for the good in helping the young panda's adapt to the new environment."

"Actually, they can still smell us. It wouldn't have mattered if we looked like pandas or not."

"Uhhh...this sticker seems to be stuck. I don't understand. Then why are we wearing these costumes?"

"Did I ever tell you how sexy you look in black and white fur? [Getting closer] There's something I've been meaning to show you."

"Um, doctor?"
posted by eye of newt at 11:48 PM on December 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


Isn't it cute?

When the last panda is killed by another stupid human, there'll be jobs for people like this.

Why is it we just don't care until it's too late? Dunno, ask the DoDo.
posted by Twang at 12:01 AM on December 9, 2010 [1 favorite]


Ten years later, the bears came back. In people suits.
posted by pracowity at 12:14 AM on December 9, 2010


I bet there are no real pandas involved, and it's all an elaborate erotic roleplay scenario.
posted by Theta States at 7:10 AM on December 9, 2010


Honestly, I don't see how the pandas could be fooled by this in the slightest.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 7:46 AM on December 9, 2010


While I was reading the article, my husband walked by and saw the picture and said "What are they doing?" in a what-kind-of-weird-stuff-are-you-looking-at voice.

They look like they might be posing for the pictures a bit (that, or the heads are not as stable as they could be.)
posted by rai at 9:14 AM on December 9, 2010


Honestly, I don't see how the pandas could be fooled by this in the slightest.

They're babies. Babies are stupid.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:04 AM on December 9, 2010 [1 favorite]


I bet there are no real pandas involved, and it's all an elaborate erotic roleplay scenario.

It goes much deeper than just one group of horny scientists. Pandas actually went extinct in 1971.
posted by Uppity Pigeon #2 at 1:19 PM on December 9, 2010 [1 favorite]


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