Wildebeests in China

[heathen earthling]

China Daily (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2011-12/31/c_131337494.htm) recently reported that a giant panda was photographed eating a wildebeest. Are they referring to the same animal as the common African wildebeest, and does this animal occur in the wild in China?

[Colibri]

No, the two species of wildebeest (genus Connochaetes) only occur in Africa.

Whatever the panda is eating, it isn't a wildebeest. That's probably a mistranslation of whatever it is.

[Floater]

Giant pandas only eat bamboo anyway.

ETA To the best of my knowledge.

[njtt]

Giant pandas only eat bamboo anyway.

ETA To the best of my knowledge.

Presumably it because it is because most people believe that, that this is a story.

Although pandas mostly subsist on bamboo, they do like to eat certain other things, including small mammals, when they can catch them.

I have gnu idea what it is eating in this case, though. I suppose it is some sort of carrion.

[Floater]

... they do like to eat certain other things, including small mammals, when they can catch them.
As it happens, so do cows.
I have gnu idea what it is eating in this case, though. I suppose it is some sort of carrion.
We'll have to assume it was a wild beast.

[Colibri]

Giant pandas only eat bamboo anyway.

ETA To the best of my knowledge.

Did you click on the link in the OP? The photo proves they will occasionally eat meat. Which since they are bears, is no great surprise. As has been mentioned, other herbivores such as cattle and deer will sometimes eat meat.

[Floater]

I did, but too late.

[Enilno]

In the Chinese version they were described as eating a 牛羚, which is the word for wildebeest. However, they probably meant 羚牛 instead, or Takin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takin), which are native to the Sichuan region.

[Colibri]

In the Chinese version they were described as eating a 牛羚, which is the word for wildebeest. However, they probably meant 羚牛 instead, or Takin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takin), which are native to the Sichuan region.

The carcass shown in the photo is consistent with it being a Takin. There would be few if any other animals that large in panda habitat.

I did, but too late.

It's always a good idea to read the OP (including links) before responding to a thread (especially in GQ).;)

[Crown Prince of Irony]

Ok, I knew that pandas ate meat on ocassion, but seeing one going to town on a carcass like that (and in night vision, to boot) is a bit... creepy.

[Xema]

... seeing one going to town on a carcass like that (and in night vision, to boot) is a bit... creepy.
The Giant Panda Code of Conduct restricts observable behavior to actions fully consistent with a cute, cuddly image (they're actually not all that crazy about bamboo, but they understand it looks good and are willing to be seen eating it on a sort of "take one for the team" basis). They love a good rack of ribs; this guy was hungry and no doubt not quite up to speed on the finer points of IR-activated cameras - so we shouldn't judge this transgression too harshly.

[ChickenLegs]

Eats, shoots, and leaves.

[Colibri]

Eats, shoots, and leaves.

Eats meat, shoots, and leaves.