Comments on: Giant Panda Attacks Man

By: cor2879

cor2879 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:41:53 +0000

I remember years ago we went to Sea World in Orlando and the next day there was a report in the news that some guy had climbed into the orca holding tank for a swim and was found in the tank dead. Turns out he had not climbed into the tank where they held the “show” orcas but instead where they keep the big males that are used for research and breeding programs. People can be so stupid when it comes to wild animals.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:14:05 +0000

While I’m here on pandas, I thought I’d dispel some other myths. Another myth, other than that they are not bears (they are), is that pandas can ONLY eat bamboo, or that they are physically unable to stomach anything else. This is false. They also eat vines, flowers, tufted grasses, and even rodents. In fact, giant pandas still have the digestive system of a carnivore and can eat meat if they want. Pandas have adapted to a vegetarian diet and typically subsist almost entirely on bamboo, but the interesting thing about this is that their digestive system is actually not all that efficient at digesting it, and they lack the digestive enzymes that some animals have for the purpose of eating plant matter. It is one of the reasons why they have to eat such large amounts of bamboo, because they are not able to efficiently derive nutrients from it.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:50:40 +0000

Shumway10973- Actually, pandas ARE bears. While it was true they were once thought to be members of the raccoon family Procyonidae, they are no longer classified as such based on increasing genetic knowledge and morphology. Giant pandas are now classified with bears in the family Ursidae . I know a lot of people still mistakenly use the old classification and like to point out that pandas are not bears, but they are.

By: sausage1

sausage1 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:56:17 +0000

If brains were dynamite this pillock wouldn’t have enough to blow his hat off. I hope the panda doesn’t catch DUMB from biting him.

By: Scari

Scari — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:59:18 +0000

Just more of the people thinking all animals love to be petted or what have you. This is the problem when channels like Discovery run these shows on animals/fish claiming they’re harmless and don’t instinctively attack humans.

By: shumway10973

shumway10973 — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:12:02 +0000

Hey, people have had similar thoughts about the bears at Yellowstone Park, and those are known for eating humans. My ex-father-in-law is a retired forestry official and actually had to arrest someone for child endangerment. They wanted a picture with the “teddy bear” holding their baby. This guy is just lucky that Pandas aren’t actually bears and that after years of getting tired of trying to catch their food pandas now eat mostly bamboo. If it had been an American Grizzly, the story would have been told only by the zoo keeper.

By: Alligator

Alligator — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:24:40 +0000

“Eau de bamboo” – that’s good sschaper!

Really, the more urban human populations become, the stupider they act when they do get around wild animals. Anthropomorphism in the cartoons doesn’t help either. Sheesh.

By: Doug

Doug — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:17:27 +0000

Stupid is as stupid does, I suppose.

By: sschaper

sschaper — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:12:56 +0000

Yet another reason not to wear “Eau de Bamboo.”

By: Aztec Raptor

Aztec Raptor — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:40:14 +0000

I agree with you Loren and Ceroill, that guy got what he deserved, he knows they aren’t “cute and cuddly”, that they can harm someone if needed!!!