Cosplay Conservation
(images via: Lost Laowai and Associated Newspapers Ltd)
Either there’s a lack of actual Pandas at the Hetaoping Research and Conservation Center in western China or actual Pandas are easier to fool than we thought. You’ll be relieved to learn it’s the latter, part of an ingenuous scheme by Center staff to keep their charges from getting too used to people.
(images via: Judgmental and Motherboard)
It might just be a bit TOO ingenuous, however, as those with thoughts of conducting a cub-napping may find themselves just one fur suit away from success. Not that we’re suggesting such a thing, of course, and the easy part would be actually snatching the Panda… getting a Panda suit and getting within shooting distance (hint hint) of the Hetaoping Research and Conservation Center would be somewhat more difficult.
Going Rogue, Panda Style
(images via: AZ Daily Sun and Kawaii Shirt Shop)
Drivers navigating Fort Valley Road in the early pre-dawn hours of Monday, August 22nd, 2011 can be forgiven for spilling their coffee into their laps after a hacker programmed an electronic sign to flash “rogue panda on rampage”. It took the Flagstaff Police Department over 8 hours to return the sign to its previous message but in the meantime they issued a statement: “We want to assure all citizens of Flagstaff that there is no problem with rogue pandas.” I’m sure that was a huge relief for traumatized Flagstaffians fearful of some sort of Pandapocalypse Now.
Pandas: Natures Rock(ing) Stars
(image via: Contractor UK)
Do Pandas like rocking horses? More than just about anything, it seems. While one pic of a Panda rocking out on a child’s plastic playground pony can be written off to just another ‘shop, two or three or ten simply can’t.
(images via: Content in a Cottage, OnAsia and Fairfax Media)
It’s not certain where the practice of Pandas riding rocking horses began but there’s no doubt the creatures love it, especially the younger animals. Nowadays zoos and ecological centers from Szechuan to San Diego are letting the Pandas rock to their hearts’ content.
Fly The Furry Skies
(image via: Shanghaiist)
C’mon, did you really expect an environmentally threatened creature like a Panda to get checked into the cargo hold like an ordinary piece of baggage? Besides, like most airlines passengers these days he just eats shoots and leaves – perhaps that could’ve been rephrased – and honestly, would you rather have snakes on a plane?

