It has been quite a month in Gengda so far! Between working with reintroduction candidates in both Hetaoping and Tiantaishan, we are kept very busy. In each of the reintroduction enclosures, we have been placing four camera traps in a circle around a certain conspecific scent, urine sample, or novel object (such as jeans with human scent). These cameras are designed to capture video of whatever moves in front of them in three minute intervals. Thus allows us to observe what behaviors the pandas exhibit in response to scents or objects that they are not used to in their enclosures. Placing these cameras is particularly difficult in Tiantaishan, where the enclosures are on steep hills, thick with bamboo. Hiking through the thick forests really tests our physical abilities and dedication to the project.
We leave the cameras out for 4-7 days, and then check on them to ensure that the specific panda we are studying has noticed or interacted with the scent or object. In Hetaoping, this has been very easy, as the pens are much smaller and the pandas typically come across the scent or object within a day or two. However, it has been much harder in Tiantaishan, where the enclosures are significantly larger, where it takes days or weeks for them to trigger our cameras. Furthermore, where we exactly leave our cameras has taken some trial and error, as some locations are areas that the pandas do not like going to. We are working closely with the keepers and move the cameras about three times in each enclosure, but we think we have finally found locations where the candidates will encounter our trials.
After we collect the cameras, we watch all the video clips that were captured and compile them all into one continuous chronological video, that shows every behavior the reintroduction candidates have done within three body lengths of our scent or novel object. We then score their behaviors using a modified personality behavioral ethogram similar to the personality study being conducted at Bifengxia. Once this is all done, the process starts all over again, with a new scent/novel object! In total we have 8 different trials we are conducting with each reintroduction candidate, so as you can imagine, our time in Gengda involves A LOT of hiking and watching videos of panda cubs. Not a bad way to spend three months.
______________________________________________________________
Zachary David is our current giant panda reintroduction team lead at Gengda, Sichuan, China. We expect that after three month of hiking into Tiantaishan, he will emerge as panda superman, able to tackle any project that we throw his way. If you would like to help Zack continue our reintroduction studies, please consider donating to fund his January return trip- CLICK HERE.
