14 DAY TRIAL // Recently, American veterinarian Katherine Feng visited the Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue, Breeding and Research Center in China's southwestern Sichuan province. She went there to deliver medical supplies donated by US charity Pandas International.
Except that, much to her delight, the visit turned out to be about more than just work. Thus, while visiting this wildlife sanctuary in China, Katherine Feng also got to meet Qi Zai, an odd-looking panda bear that's been living at the center for years now.
Now, we're used to pandas being black and white. The thing is that, unlike others of its species, Qi Zai does not have a single black hair on his body. Instead, he is brown and white, some patches darker than others but still not enough to qualify as black.
The bear, now 5 years old, was found all alone in the woods in China's Qinling Mountains when he was just a cub. His mother was nowhere in sight so he was brought to the Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue, Breeding and Research Center, his home ever since.
Brown pandas are not a common sight, not by a long shot
According to wildlife researchers, there have been only 5 sightings of brown panda bears in the wild since 1985. Otherwise put, Qi Zai and his lot are not exactly a common occurrence, not by a long shot.
As for how these odd-looking pandas got their brown fur, scientists aren't quite sure. Since they've only been spotted in China's Qinling Mountains so far, some suspect something in the water or the soil in the area might explain their bizarre pigmentation.
Then again, it could be that it all comes down to genetics. “It is suspected that the brown and white coloring of pandas has a genetic basis, possible a result of a double recessive gene, a combination of genes or a dilution factor gene,” said Katherine Feng, as cited by DM.
Despite the peculiar color of this fur, Qi Zai doesn't seem to have any health problem. On the contrary, his caretakers say he is just as strong and active as the other panda bears living at the sanctuary.
