All language subtitles for Republic Z.English

Black: FOR 3 MILLION YEARS,
THE GIANT PANDA

Downloaded from
YTS.MX

HAS ROAMED
ACROSS SOUTHEAST ASIA.

Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX

BUT THEIR HABITAT
IS DISAPPEARING,

AND THIS ANCIENT BEAR IS
RUNNING
OUT OF PLACES TO LIVE.

THE REMOTE MOUNTAINS
OF SICHUAN, CHINA,

ARE NOW THE LAST REFUGE
FOR THE WILD PANDA.

WITH LESS THAN 2,000
LEFT IN THE WILD,

THEY'RE NOW EDGING
CLOSER TO EXTINCTION.

BUT HELP IS ON THE WAY
FOR THESE GENTLE GIANTS.

TWO PANDA CENTERS IN CHINA

ARE DETERMINED TO SAVE
THESE CUTE BLACK-AND-WHITE
BEARS

WITH NEW, CUTTING-EDGE
RESEARCH.

THE FIRST AT BIFENGXIA
HAS BEEN DEDICATED

TO TRANSFORMING THE BREEDING
AND SURVIVAL RATE

OF PANDAS BORN IN CAPTIVITY.

WHILE THE SECOND
AT WOLONG HAS LAUNCHED

THEIR MOST AMBITIOUS
MISSION TO DATE.

BREEDING PANDAS THAT CAN BE
RELEASED INTO THE WILD.

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

WORLDWIDE,
THERE WERE JUST UNDER 400
PANDAS

BEING CARED FOR IN CAPTIVITY.

AND OVER 100 LIVE
AT THE SICHUAN BASES

AT THE CHINA CONSERVATION
AND RESEARCH CENTER

FOR THE GIANT PANDA.

THANKS TO THE SUCCESS
OF THE BREEDING PROGRAM,

NEW GUESTS ARE ARRIVING
ALL THE TIME.

IMAGES OF PANDAS
ARE EVERYWHERE IN CHINA,

BUT THE PANDA CENSUS
COMPLETED THIS YEAR

COUNTED LESS THAN 2,000
STILL SURVIVING IN THE WILD.

AS HUMAN POPULATIONS GROW,
PEOPLE AND PANDAS

ARE INCREASINGLY IN
COMPETITION
FOR LIVING SPACE.

THE VASTNESS OF THE FOREST

HAS BEEN BROKEN UP
INTO SMALLER, ISOLATED
POCKETS.

AND MANY PANDAS
HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES TRAPPED

IN AREAS TOO SMALL TO SUSTAIN
A HEALTHY BREEDING POPULATION.

AND THIS COULD MEAN THAT,
WITHIN 50 TO 100 YEARS,

PANDAS WOULD BECOME EXTINCT
IF NOTHING IS DONE TO SAVE
THEM.

ZHANG HEMIN IS THE DIRECTOR
OF CHINA CONSERVATION

AND RESEARCH CENTER
FOR THE GIANT PANDA.

AND FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS,

HE'S MADE IT HIS MISSION
TO PROTECT THESE GENTLE
GIANTS.

HE'S LEADING
A HUGELY AMBITIOUS PROJECT

WITH TWO DISTINCT OBJECTIVES.

FIRST, INCREASE NUMBERS
VIA A CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM

WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL
OF 500 PANDAS.

THE SECOND GOAL
IS EVEN MORE CHALLENGING --

TRAIN AND RELEASE CAPTIVE-BRED
PANDAS INTO THE WILD.

THE REWILDING PROJECT
HAPPENS IN A REMOTE VALLEY

IN SICHUAN, CHINA,

AT WOLONG PANDA BASE.

PANDAS HERE LIVE IN
A SEMI-WILD ENVIRONMENT,

DESIGNED TO PREPARE GROWING
CUBS

TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND LIVE
WITHOUT HUMAN CONTACT.

THE MANDATORY UNIFORM
FOR KEEPERS AT WOLONG

IS A PANDA ONESIE...

PANDA WITH GLASSES.

Black:
...SO THAT IMPRESSIONABLE CUBS

DON'T GET USED TO SEEING
HUMANS.

BUT EVERYTHING STARTS WITH
THE BREEDING CENTER PROGRAM

AT BIFENGXIA.

THE CENTER IS HOME
TO ONE OF CHINA'S

MOST SUCCESSFUL
CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAMS.

THE MISSION HERE
IS TO INCREASE THE POPULATION

AND ULTIMATELY RETURN
THESE UNIQUE BEARS TO THE
WILD.

IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK.

IT ALL STARTS WITH THE BABIES.

OVER 60 PANDAS
ARE CARED FOR HERE,

AND THREE ARE GETTING A LOT
OF SPECIAL ATTENTION.

THEY'RE ON PREGNANCY WATCH.

9-YEAR-OLD SULIN
HAS LOST HER APPETITE.

LIKE ALL PANDAS,

SULIN COULD NORMALLY SPEND
UP TO 12 HOURS A DAY EATING.

SO THIS MAY BE A SIGN
THAT A CUB IS ON THE WAY.

NOW THIS PLAYFUL PANDA
IS MORE INTERESTED IN HER
KEEPER

THAN THE FOOD
THAT USUALLY TEMPTS HER

ONTO THE SCALES
FOR HER DAILY WEIGH-IN.

SULIN WAS BORN IN SAN DIEGO
ZOO.

FOUR YEARS AGO,
SHE ARRIVED IN CHINA

TO JOIN THE BREEDING PROGRAM

AND HER GRANDPA PAN PAN.

PAN PAN HAS RECENTLY RETIRED
AS BIFENGXIA'S SUPER STUD.

SHUI XIU IS ANOTHER MOM-TO-BE.

SHE'S BEEN CARED FOR
SINCE BEING FOUND INJURED

AND STARVING IN THE WILD.

EVEN THOUGH SHE'S MISSING PART
OF HER FRONT PAW,

SHE'S STILL ONE
OF THE BEST CLIMBERS

AT THE CENTER

AND LIKES TO GET
AWAY FROM IT ALL,

WHICH CAN MAKE IT TRICKY
TO KEEP AN EYE ON HER.

JINI IS THE VETERAN MOM
OUT OF THE THREE.

SHE'S FROM THE BEIJING ZOO.

SHE AND HER KEEPER CAME
TO BIFENGXIA TO TAKE ADVANTAGE

OF THE CENTER'S
EXPERT MATERNITY CARE.

JINI HAS
A REAL LAID-BACK PERSONALITY

AND DOESN'T LIKE TO RUSH
THINGS.

SEVEN YEARS AGO,
SHE ENTERED THE RECORD BOOKS

AS THE OLDEST FIRST-TIME
MOTHER

WHEN SHE WAITED
UNTIL THE ADVANCED AGE OF 13

TO PRODUCE HER FIRST DAUGHTER,
QING QING.

ONE MONTH AGO,
QING QING MADE JINI A GRANDMA.

AT 20 YEARS OLD,

JINI'S CLOSE TO THE MAXIMUM
AGE
FOR BEARING ANOTHER CUB.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN
THIS LATE STARTER ISN'T
TRYING.

FOUR MONTHS AFTER MATING,
SHE'S LOST INTEREST IN FOOD

AND IS LOUNGING
AROUND EVEN MORE THAN USUAL.

THESE ARE BOTH CLASSIC SIGNS

THAT THIS LAID-BACK GRANDMA
IS EXPECTING.

EVEN WITH
THE ENTIRE CENTER'S EXPERTISE,

PANDA PREGNANCIES
ARE SO UNPREDICTABLE

THAT NO ONE'S BETTING

ON WHO'S GOING TO BE
THE FIRST TO DELIVER...

...SHUI XIU...

JINI...

OR SULIN.

THESE MOMS-TO-BE
MAY HAVE LOST THEIR APPETITE,

BUT EVERYONE ELSE
EXPECTS BREAKFAST AS USUAL.

ALL HANDS ARE ON DECK
FOR FOOD PREP.

MEALTIME'S IN FULL SWING.

BAMBOO, CARROTS,
AND MORE BAMBOO.

OVER AT THE MATERNITY WARD,

THE USUALLY SOCIABLE SULIN

HAS RETREATED TO A CORNER
OF HER COMPOUND.

THE BIRTHING TEAM

THINKS THIS BEHAVIOR
MEANS SHE'S IN LABOR.

SHE'S GIVEN BIRTH BEFORE,

BUT STAFF HAD TO INTERVENE
AFTER HER FIRST BIRTH

WHEN SULIN KEPT DROPPING
THE HELPLESS INFANT.

SO, THIS TIME,

THE BIRTHING TEAM
IS WATCHING HER CLOSELY.

AS WITH MANY THINGS
AROUND PANDA PREGNANCY,

THE LENGTH OF LABOR
IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT.

IT COULD BE AS SHORT
AS TWO HOURS.

SO FAR, SULIN HAS BEEN
IN LABOR FOR SIX.

SHE'S RESTLESS
AND LOOKS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

IF THIS GOES
ON MUCH LONGER,

IT COULD BE A SIGN

THAT SOMETHING
IS SERIOUSLY WRONG.

Black: AT BIFENGXIA'S
PANDA BREEDING CENTER,

SULIN HAS BEEN IN LABOR
FOR NEARLY EIGHT HOURS.

SHE MAY BE CLEARING THE GROUND
TO PREPARE FOR BIRTH.

[ CUB SQUEAKING ]

BUT THEN IT'S ALL OVER
IN A FEW SECONDS!

THE BLIND AND HELPLESS CUB

WEIGHS ALMOST 1,000 TIMES LESS
THAN ITS PROTECTIVE MOM.

PANDAS JUST HAVE
TO HOLD THEIR BABIES TIGHT,

BUT NOT TOO TIGHT,

AND THIS TIME, SULIN
IS GETTING IT JUST RIGHT.

SULIN'S KEEPER IS ANXIOUS TO
GET
A GOOD LOOK AT THE NEW
ARRIVAL.

MANY NEWBORNS DON'T SURVIVE
THE FIRST FEW DAYS,

AND THE TEAM MUST ACT QUICKLY
IF THE CUB SEEMS DISTRESSED.

THEY NOTICE SOMETHING
ABNORMAL WITH THE NEWBORN

AND WANT TO GET A CLOSER LOOK.

THEY DECIDE TO TAKE THE BABY.

THEY ALERT THE DIRECTOR
OF THE CENTER,

AND THE KEEPERS
PREPARE TO SEPARATE SULIN

FROM HER NEWBORN CUB.

THE TRUST
BETWEEN KEEPER AND PANDA

IS ABOUT TO BE PUT
TO THE ULTIMATE TEST.

IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES
SINCE SULIN DELIVERED HER
BABY,

AND IF IT'S INJURED, IT'LL
NEED
IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

THE TEAM QUICKLY FIGURES OUT
THE BEST EXIT PLAN,

BUT THERE'S NO WAY OF KNOWING
HOW SULIN WILL REACT

TO HAVING HER NEW BABY
SNATCHED AWAY.

HER KEEPER COULD BE FACING
200 POUNDS OF FURIOUS MOM.

AS HE EDGES INTO POSITION,

THE CLOSE BOND
BETWEEN PANDA AND KEEPER

IS CLEAR AS SULIN STAYS CALM.

A MOMENT LATER,
HE'S GOT THE BABY.

[ CUB SQUEAKING ]

IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE NEWBORN
IS SECURELY SWADDLED.

BUT THE TEAM MUST ACT FAST.

THE CUB NEEDS TO FEEL
WARM AND PROTECTED,

OR IT WILL GET DISTRESSED.

THE BABY NEEDS TO GET BACK
TO SULIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

UNTIL THE NEWBORN HAS
A THOROUGH MEDICAL
EXAMINATION,

NO ONE KNOWS HOW SOON OR EVEN
IF
MOTHER AND CUB CAN BE
REUNITED.

PANDAS COME INTO THE WORLD
BLIND, BALD,

AND COMPLETELY HELPLESS.

THEIR WORLD
BEGINS AND ENDS WITH MOM

FOR THE FIRST
TWO MONTHS OF LIFE.

AT JUST OVER
SIX OUNCES,

THIS CUB'S A HEAVYWEIGHT
IN PANDA TERMS.

MOST NEWBORNS WEIGH BETWEEN
THREE TO FIVE OUNCES.

AFTER BEING THOROUGHLY
CHECKED OUT,

THE EXAM REVEALS THAT IT'S
JUST A LITTLE BRUISING.

BEFORE THE CUB
GOES BACK TO MOM,

ITS UMBILICAL CORD GETS A
TRIM.

IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL
THE SEX OF THE CUB.

THOSE ORGANS WON'T DEVELOP FOR
AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO WEEKS.

BEEN A VERY LONG DAY
FOR SULIN AND HER KEEPERS.

[ CUB SQUEAKING ]

NOW SHE AND HER CUB
ARE HAPPILY REUNITED.

ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE MATERNITY WARD,

MOTHER-TO-BE SHUI XIU
HAS A BIG SURPRISE

IN STORE FOR THE PANDA CENTER.

Black: AT THE BIFENGXIA
PANDA BREEDING CENTER,

SHUI XIU HAS GIVEN BIRTH...

...TO TWINS.

WHILE SHE CARES
FOR ONE HEALTHY BABY,

NURSERY STAFF
LOOKS AFTER THE OTHER.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON
FOR PANDAS TO HAVE TWINS,

BUT IN THE WILD,

ONLY THE HEALTHIER NEWBORN
WOULD MOST LIKELY SURVIVE.

[ CUB SQUEAKING ]

IT'S VERY, VERY RARE
FOR THE FEMALE PANDAS

OR THE PANDA MOTHER
TO RAISE THE TWIN CUBS.

SHE CAN ONLY PICK ONE.

Black: TWINS BORN
AT THE PANDA CENTER

ARE LUCKY TO BE PART
OF AN INGENIOUS INNOVATION

IN CUB REARING.

THEY'RE BEING SWAP-RAISED.

FIVE DAYS
OF INTENSIVE CARE IN THE
NURSERY

WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY FIVE DAYS WITH MOM

SO THAT EACH OF THEM WILL HAVE
A CHANCE TO DRINK HER MILK.

LEARNING FOR ALL BABIES
STARTS AT BIRTH,

AND GETTING TIME WITH MOM
FROM THE BEGINNING ENSURES

EACH CUB HAS THE BEST
POSSIBLE START IN LIFE.

SHUI XIU IS ABOUT TO GET
TWIN NUMBER TWO...

AND NUMBER ONE WILL BE
STARTING
ITS NURSERY ROTATION.

THE CUBS WILL BE SWAPPED FOR
AT LEAST THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS

UNTIL THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH
TO MOVE AROUND ON THEIR OWN

AND WON'T BE QUITE SO
DEMANDING OF MOM.

COME ON, GUYS.

AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

HELPS KEEP THE CENTER
RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

Hein: THIS IS THE SECOND TIME
I'VE BEEN HERE

TO BIFENGXIA PANDA BASE
TO DO THE VOLUNTEER WORK.

IT JUST GIVES YOU A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE ON THE PANDAS

AND HOW THEY, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF LIVE DAY TO DAY.

Black: WHEN THE KEEPERS
AREN'T WITH THEIR PANDAS,

SOMEONE'S ALWAYS KEEPING AN
EYE
ON THEM FROM A DISTANCE.

THE STAFF MAKES COPIOUS NOTES

AS THEY TRY TO UNLOCK
THE MYSTERIES OF THEIR
BEHAVIOR.

LAID-BACK, POSSIBLY PREGNANT,

GRANDMA JINI
IS STILL NOT EATING.

SHE SEEMS TO BE IN NO RUSH
TO DELIVER,

EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN 140 DAYS
SINCE SHE'S MATED.

A PANDA'S GESTATION
CAN BE ANYWHERE

FROM 90 TO OVER 160 DAYS.

BUT JINI'S KEEPERS
ARE BEGINNING TO WONDER

IF SHE'S REALLY PREGNANT.

IT COULD BE A PSEUDO
PREGNANCY,

WHICH MEANS SHE'S EXHIBITING
ALL THE SIGNS,

BUT SHE'S NOT ACTUALLY
PREGNANT.

LIKE OTHER BEARS,

PANDAS CAN DELAY IMPLANTATION
OF THE EMBRYO AFTER MATING.

IT'S AN ADAPTATION
THAT, IN THE WILD,

HELPS ENSURE CUBS ARE BORN
WHEN THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD,

GIVING THEM THE BEST CHANCE
OF SURVIVAL.

EVEN AN ULTRASOUND WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO CONFIRM PREGNANCY.

THE FETUS IS TOO TINY.

FOR NOW THE TEAM'S
GIVING JINI

THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

AND WILL CONTINUE
WATCHING HER 24/7.

SHUI XIU'S TWIN NUMBER ONE
IS ON NURSERY ROTATION

WHILE TWIN NUMBER TWO
IS BLISSING OUT WITH MOM.

AT 1 MONTH OLD, THE CUBS

NOW HAVE THEIR ICONIC
BLACK-AND-WHITE FUR.

IT'LL BE ANOTHER
TWO OR THREE WEEKS

BEFORE THEIR EYES FULLY OPEN.

THERE ARE OVER 60 PANDAS
AT THE BASE,

AND WITH NEW MOUTHS
ARRIVING ALL THE TIME,

KEEPING THEM FED
IS A FULL-TIME MISSION.

PANDAS HAVE THE PHYSIOLOGY

OF A MEAT EATER
LIKE OTHER BEARS,

BUT AT SOME POINT
IN THE DISTANT PAST,

THIS MOST UNUSUAL BEAR
BECAME A VIRTUAL VEGETARIAN.

FOR THE LAST 3 MILLION YEARS,

THEIR STAPLE DIET
HAS BEEN BAMBOO.

Narhulan: A BIG CREATURE
LIKE HIM, HE LIVES ON PLANTS.

THAT'S A LITTLE, LIKE -- FOR
ME,
IT'S A LITTLE BIT RIDICULOUS.

OTHER BEARS, THEY ALWAYS
ALSO LIVE ON MEAT.

I WAS TOLD BY MY KEEPER
THAT THEY DON'T DIGEST,

OR THEY DON'T REALLY
ABSORB ENOUGH NUTRITION.

I THINK HE SAID IT WAS --

AT MOST, IF IT WAS REALLY,
REALLY GOOD,

THEY'D ABSORB ABOUT 17%
OF WHAT THEY EAT

IN TERMS
OF NUTRITION AND VITAMINS.

Black: BAMBOO MAY BE ONE
OF THE WORLD'S WORST DIETS

FOR A BEAR,

BUT NOBODY
TOLD SULIN'S GRANDPA PAN PAN.

PAN PAN WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD

WHEN FOUND ABANDONED
IN THE WILD IN 1986.

NOW A RESPECTED SENIOR
CITIZEN,
PAN PAN HAS FATHERED 32 CUBS.

AND SULIN'S NEWEST ADDITION
TO THE FAMILY

IS JUST THE LATEST
OF HIS MANY GREAT-GRANDKIDS.

LIVING NEXT DOOR TO PAN PAN
IS ONE OF HIS GRANDSONS.

9-YEAR-OLD TAI SHAN WAS BORN
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,

AT THE NATIONAL ZOO.

HE WAS THE FIRST CUB TO
SURVIVE
MORE THAN A FEW DAYS PAST
BIRTH.

ALL PANDAS IN ZOOS
AROUND THE WORLD

BELONG TO CHINA,

AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENTS
USUALLY REQUIRE NEW CUBS

TO BE SENT TO CHINA
ONCE THEY REACH 2 YEARS OLD,

THE AGE YOUNG PANDAS

WOULD NORMALLY STRIKE OUT
ON THEIR OWN IN THE WILD.

TAI SHAN WAS SO WELL-LOVED
THAT THE NATIONAL ZOO

NEGOTIATED TO KEEP HIM
AN EXTRA 2 1/2 YEARS

BEFORE FINALLY SENDING HIM
TO HIS ANCESTRAL HOME.

THE NEED FOR BAMBOO
HAS FOSTERED CLOSE LINKS

WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

EVERY DAY,
LOCAL VILLAGERS HARVEST

AND DELIVER TRUCKLOADS
OF FRESHLY CUT BAMBOO.

PANDA FANS FROM ALL CORNERS
OF THE GLOBE

VOLUNTEER TO HELP THE KEEPERS

SORT AND PREPARE THE ENDLESS
BUNDLES OF VEGETATION.

Woman:
I COME FROM DENMARK,

AND I'M SAVING UP
FOR FOUR YEARS TO COME HERE.

Black: THEIR REWARD
IS TO GET UP CLOSE AND
PERSONAL

WITH THEIR PANDA IDOLS.

THEY'RE LIKE SUPER
CUTE, YOU KNOW?

THEY EAT BAMBOOS,

AND THEY'RE, LIKE, CHUBBY,
I DON'T KNOW.

I REALLY LOVE THEM.

Black: SINCE BAMBOO
DOESN'T PROVIDE MUCH
NUTRITION,

WILD PANDAS SPEND ALMOST EVERY
WAKING MINUTE FORAGING FOR
FOOD.

HERBIVORES
THAT LIVE ON A SIMILAR DIET

HAVE FOUR STOMACHS
OR EXTRA-LONG DIGESTIVE TRACTS

TO HELP BREAK IT DOWN.

PANDAS DON'T HAVE EITHER,

SO THEY SETTLED FOR EATING
LOTS OF IT

AND PASSING IT THROUGH QUICKLY
SO THEY HAVE ROOM TO EAT MORE.

WHICH IS WHERE THE VOLUNTEERS
COME IN AGAIN.

GO UP THE STAIR
AND CHECK PANDA POOP.

TAKE IT.

OBVIOUSLY,
ALL AROUND THE ENCLOSURE,

YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LOT
OF PANDA POO.

IT'S LITERALLY SHREDDED
BAMBOO.

Black: A SINGLE PANDA CAN
PRODUCE UP TO 48 POUNDS OF
WASTE

IN JUST 24 HOURS.

AND BIFENGXIA IS HOME
TO MORE THAN 60 PANDAS.

YOU DO THE MATH.

THAT'S A LOT OF POOP.

IF YOU THINK IT'S VERY HARD,
YOU CAN USE YOUR HAND.

NO.

FOR PANDA SCIENTISTS, PANDA
POOP
IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST WASTE.

IT'S CHOCKFUL OF INFORMATION
ABOUT A PANDA'S HEALTH

AND STATE OF MIND.

NOT SO FAST
THROWING AWAY THAT POOP.

YOU PRETTY MUCH
SEE FROM THEIR POO

WHAT THEY'VE EATEN, SO APPLE.

THEY'VE HAD SOME APPLE,
AND THIS LITERALLY HAS COME
OUT

AFTER EATING THE APPLE.

Black: THE CENTER IS PROUD
OF THE FINE DINING

IT PROVIDES FOR
ITS FURRY CLIENTS.

THE MENU INCLUDES
THIS SPECIAL-RECIPE PANDA
BREAD,

FRESHLY BAKED EVERY DAY
BY A MASTER PANDA CHEF.

THE BREAD IS MADE
FROM STEAMED CORN

AND HAS A SWEET AROMA.

50 TO 60 LOAVES
ARE MADE EVERY DAY.

IT DOESN'T TASTE MUCH.

Black: UNDERSTANDING THE
DIETARY
NEEDS OF THIS PICKY BEAR

HAS PLAYED A HUGE PART
IN IMPROVING THE HEALTH

AND THE BREEDING CAPACITY
OF CAPTIVE PANDAS.

STILL GOING STRONG
AT NEARLY 30 YEARS OLD,

GRANDPA PAN PAN
IS TESTIMONY TO THE SUCCESS

OF THE PANDA CENTER'S DIET.

A WILD PANDA WOULD BE LUCKY
TO MAKE IT TO 20.

AS FOREST AREAS
DIMINISH IN CHINA,

STARVATION, ILLNESS,
AND INJURY

ARE A CONSTANT THREAT
FOR WILD POPULATIONS.

Narhulan: A PANDA HAVE TO LIVE
IN A REALLY BIG AREA

TO MAKE SURE
THAT HE HAS ENOUGH FOOD TO
EAT.

THEY CANNOT LIVE ANY LONGER

IN THEIR OWN HABITAT
MOSTLY DUE TO HUMAN
ACTIVITIES.

Black: THE GIANT PANDA IS
RUNNING OUT OF PLACES TO LIVE,

AND THE SHRINKING GENE POOL

COULD BE THE BIGGEST
THREAT OF ALL...

...MAKING THE WORK
AT THE PANDA BREEDING CENTER

ESSENTIAL TO THE SURVIVAL
OF THE SPECIES.

Black:
IT'S BEEN 11 WEEKS

SINCE SHUI XIU
HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO HER TWINS.

HER CUBS ARE THRIVING, THANKS
TO THE SWAP-RAISING PROTOCOL.

THE TWINS ARE A BOY
AND A GIRL,

AND LITTLE QIQI
IS ON THE LAST DAY

OF HIS FIVE-DAY
NURSERY ROTATION.

PANDA CUBS THIS AGE CAN'T EVEN
PEE AND POOP ON THEIR OWN.

THE BABY'S EYES
ARE NOW FULLY OPEN.

BUT IT'LL BE AT LEAST
ANOTHER COUPLE WEEKS

BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO WALK
MORE THAN A FEW STEPS.

IT'S NOW FEEDING TIME.

GETTING THE MILK
FORMULA EXACTLY RIGHT IS
VITAL.

YEARS OF RESEARCH AND PATIENCE

HAVE GONE
INTO PERFECTING THE FORMULA.

MANY CUBS
IN THE PAST DIDN'T MAKE IT

THROUGH THOSE VULNERABLE
FIRST FEW MONTHS OF LIFE,

RESULTING
IN HEARTBREAKING
DISAPPOINTMENT

FOR THE CENTER'S TEAM.

[ SQUEAKS ]

AT NEARLY 3 MONTHS,
THE CUB'S BABY TEETH

ARE JUST STARTING
TO COME THROUGH.

QIQI DOESN'T LIKE
HIS MOUTH WIPED.

IT WON'T GET ITS PERMANENT
BAMBOO-CRUNCHING TEETH

UNTIL IT'S 1 YEAR OLD.

TIME FOR LITTLE QIQI
TO HEAD BACK TO MOM.

BUT FIRST, HE GETS
A QUICK RUBDOWN WITH MOM'S
POOP.

THE SCENT WILL HELP SHUI XIU
IDENTIFY HIM AS HER CUB.

IT'LL BE ANOTHER TWO MONTHS
BEFORE MOM WILL BE FACED

WITH TAKING CARE OF BOTH CUBS.

PANDAS HAVE A VERY HIGHLY
DEVELOPED SENSE OF SMELL,

AND BOTH MALES AND FEMALES
CONSTANTLY MARK THEIR
TERRITORY.

PANDAS USE SCENT MARKING
FOR ESSENTIAL SOCIAL
NETWORKING.

DAI LI HAS MASTERED
THE THREE-LEGGED HANDSTAND,

ALLOWING HIM TO SPRAY
HIS SCENT IN STYLE.

THE HIGHER
UP HE CAN SPRAY,

THE MORE IMPRESSIVE THE
MESSAGE.

13 YEARS AGO, HE STUMBLED OUT
OF
THE FOREST COVERED IN BLOOD.

HE WAS SO BADLY INJURED
THAT SAVING HIS LIFE

MEANT HE BECAME
THE FIRST PANDA AMPUTEE.

LU LU IS
THE BREEDING CENTER'S STAR
STUD

AND TAKES HIS SOCIAL SCENTING
VERY SERIOUSLY.

THEY ARE SOLITARY ANIMALS.

THEY COMMUNICATE
WITH EACH OTHER WITH --

BY SCENTS OR THE CHEMICAL CUES
LEFT BY EACH OTHER.

THE REASON WHY LU LU
CAME TO THIS PLACE

IS THE DESTRUCTION
OF HIS OWN HABITAT.

HE'S LIKE 15 YEARS OLD
RIGHT NOW.

Black: LU LU HAS ALREADY
FATHERED OVER 20 CUBS,

BRINGING A VITAL INPUT
OF NEW DNA

TO THE CAPTIVE GENE POOL.

Narhulan: ONE BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN CAPTURED --

A RAISED PANDA
AND THE WILD PANDA

IS THEIR SEXUAL ABILITY.

THOSE WILD ONE ALWAYS
ACT MUCH BETTER.

LU LU WAS IN THE WILD
UNTIL HE WAS AN ADULT,

SO JUST LIKE HUMAN,

IF YOU'RE GROWING UP
IN A VERY TOUGH PLACE,

THEN YOU'RE GONNA BE
MUCH STRONGER THAN THE OTHERS.

Black: LU LU USES A SCENT
GLAND
UNDER HIS TAIL

TO LEAVE A WARNING FOR
RIVALS...

AND AN INVITATION
TO POTENTIAL MATES.

WITH LU LU'S HELP,

NARHULAN IS RESEARCHING
JUST HOW MUCH INFORMATION

IS CARRIED
IN A PANDA'S EXCRETIONS.

I'LL BE WAITING IN THIS CAGE

UNTIL THE PANDA IS URINATING,

SO -- OH, HERE HE IS.

Black: IT DOESN'T TAKE LU LU
LONG TO PROVIDE A SAMPLE.

YEAH, THAT'S ENOUGH.

40 MILLIMETERS.

WHAT I NEED IS JUST
THE ONLY SMELL

OF HIS URINE IN THIS TUBE.

Black: ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE ENCLOSURE,

ANOTHER MALE PANDA HAS NO IDEA

THAT HE'S ABOUT
TO PLAY A STARRING ROLE

IN AN IMPORTANT
SCENT EXPERIMENT.

Black: UNLOCKING THE SECRETS
OF
PANDA SCENT-MESSAGING BEHAVIOR

IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CARE
OF CAPTIVE-BRED INDIVIDUALS.

BUT IT COULD ALSO TRANSFORM
OUR UNDERSTANDING

OF HOW THEY SURVIVE IN THE
WILD.

SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THAT PANDAS
USE SCENT MESSAGES

FOR MUCH MORE
THAN JUST MARKING TERRITORY.

Narhulan: A SCENT STATION
IS KIND OF A SPOT

THAT PANDA LEFT THEIR SCENT
ON TREE BARK OR THE WALL

OR THE STONE
OR SOMETHING IN THE WILD.

MAYBE THEIR SEX
OR BODY SIZE,

SO THEY WILL KNOW, OH,
THIS IS A NICE ONE

TO MATE WITH OR NOT.

Black: NARHULAN
WANTS TO TEST THE THEORY

THAT THEY USE SCENT STATIONS

TO POST STATUS UPDATES
REVEALING
LOTS OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.

KIND OF LIKE FACEBOOK
FOR PANDAS.

AT 15, WU GANG IS THE SAME AGE
AS LU LU THE LOVER BOY.

BUT HE'S A SMALLER
AND QUIETER BEAR.

WU GANG WAS FOUND
ABANDONED AS A CUB

AND WAS RAISED AT BIFENGXIA.

NARHULAN THINKS WU GANG

IS PERFECT
TO TEST OUT THE THEORY

THAT PANDAS USE SCENT
IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

Narhulan: WHAT I'M GOING
TO DO RIGHT NOW

IS JUST SPRAY SOME SAMPLE
OF LU LU'S URINE ON THE GROUND

TO SEE HOW WU GANG REACTS ON
IT.

WE CAN WATCH FROM THE OUTSIDE.

YEAH, HE'S SMELLING.

YOU SEE, HE'S SMELLING.

IT WORKS.

AFTER SMELLING,
HE JUST BECOME REALLY QUIET.

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN IT.

LOOK AT HIM, HE WAS WALKING
AROUND JUST MOMENTS AGO.

RIGHT NOW,
HE IS JUST SITTING OVER THERE.

Black: NARHULAN HAS SEEN
ENOUGH
AND FEELS SORRY FOR WU GANG.

OKAY, I GUESS
HE'S SUFFERING SOMETHING.

I HAVE TO RELIEVE HIM
OUTSIDE THE PEN.

LU LU'S SCENT SEEMS TO ACT
AS A WARNING TO OTHER MALES.

Narhulan: YEAH, HE CANNOT WAIT
TO GET OUTSIDE.

Black:
THESE COMPLEX CHEMICAL SIGNALS

ARE THOUGHT TO HELP WILD
PANDAS
AVOID DANGEROUS
CONFRONTATIONS.

Narhulan: HE KNOWS HE HAS
A VERY STRONG ENEMY.

"I CANNOT HANDLE THIS.
I HAVE TO GO."

IT'S KIND
OF A COMPETITION.

Black: UNDERSTANDING THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE MESSAGES

CAN PREVENT UNNECESSARY STRESS
FOR PANDAS IN CAPTIVITY,

MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE
TO THEIR HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING.

BACK AT THE BIFENGXIA
BREEDING PANDA BASE,

SULIN IS PROVING TO BE
AN ATTENTIVE AND NURTURING
MOM.

HER BABY IS FIT AND HEALTHY

WITH NO LASTING EFFECTS
FROM HIS BRUISING AT BIRTH.

SULIN'S CUB
IS NOW 4 MONTHS OLD,

AND DNA TESTS HAVE REVEALED
HE'S A BOY.

IT'S NOT EASY DETERMINING
THE SEX OF PANDAS.

ZOO ATLANTA IN GEORGIA

SENT 4-YEAR-OLD NALAN TO CHINA

TO JOIN THE BREEDING PROGRAM,

WHERE HE WAS DISCOVERED
TO ACTUALLY BE A SHE.

DNA TESTING
NOW TAKES THE GUESSWORK

OUT OF ASSIGNING GENDER.

SULIN'S CUB IS STILL
A LITTLE CLUMSY,

BUT HE'S STARTING TO GET
CURIOUS
ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND HIM.

AND LIKE MOST BABIES,
HE LIKES TO CHEW ON THINGS.

HE'S STILL VIRTUALLY HELPLESS,
BUT MOM IS ALWAYS CLOSE BY.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

AT THE MATERNITY WARD,

LAID-BACK GRANDMA JINI'S
BEEN KICKED OUT

AFTER REGAINING HER APPETITE.

HER PREGNANCY TURNED OUT
TO BE A FALSE ALARM,

AND SHE'S WAITING FOR A RIDE
BACK TO BEIJING ZOO.

IT'S POSSIBLE
THAT JINI WAS PREGNANT

AND HAD A MISCARRIAGE.

THE OLDEST KNOWN PANDA
TO GIVE BIRTH

WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS
OLDER THAN JINI,

SO AT 20, THIS IS PROBABLY
HER LAST CHANCE

FOR HAVING A CUB.

BUT HER DAUGHTER,
QING QING,

IS DOING A GOOD JOB
OF RAISING HER GRANDKID.

LIKE ANY FIRST-TIME MOM,
SHE'S HAD TO LEARN

HOW TO GENTLY PICK UP
AND CARE FOR HER BABY.

IT WAS
A STEEP LEARNING CURVE,

BUT SHE'S GOT
THE HANG OF IT NOW.

LIKE MANY PARENTS,

SHE'S PROTECTIVE
AS WELL AS PLAYFUL

WITH HER LITTLE ONE.

THE BREEDING CENTER IS ALSO
HOME
TO 16-YEAR-OLD XI XI

AND HER TWINS.

SHE'S A VERY ATTENTIVE MOM,

BUT HER 1 1/2-YEAR-OLD
BOISTEROUS BOYS

DEMAND CONSTANT ATTENTION.

THIS IS HAO HU.

AND THIS IS HAO BAO.

THEY'RE FUN-LOVING BROTHERS,

BUT THERE'S A TWIST
TO THEIR STORY.

HAO HU ISN'T XI XI'S
NATURAL CUB.

XI XI IS ONE OF THE OLDEST

AND MOST EXPERIENCED MOMS
AT THE CENTER.

AND IT'S THE REASON
WHY SHE WAS CHOSEN

TO BE HAO HU'S FOSTER MOTHER

WHEN HIS OWN MOM
COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF HIM.

HAO HU WAS BORN A TWIN,

BUT HIS BIRTH MOTHER IS
IN THE WOLONG REWILDING
PROGRAM.

WHEN HAO HU'S MOM HAD TWINS,

HIS SIBLING STAYED WITH MOM
WHILE HE WAS RESCUED

AND RUSHED TO THE BREEDING
CENTER AT BIFENGXIA.

XI XI GAVE BIRTH
FOUR DAYS LATER,

AND WHEN HER OWN CUB
WAS TEMPORARILY SWAPPED OUT,

SHE IMMEDIATELY ACCEPTED HAO
HU
IN HIS PLACE.

THE TWO BOYS WERE SWAP-RAISED
JUST LIKE NATURAL TWINS,

ALTERNATELY SPENDING FIVE DAYS
WITH MOM,

FOLLOWED BY FIVE DAYS
WITH THEIR KEEPERS...

UNTIL XI XI WAS READY
TO HANDLE BOTH BOYS TOGETHER.

A YEAR AND A HALF LATER,

NO ONE WOULD KNOW
THERE WAS ANYTHING DIFFERENT

ABOUT THIS FAMILY.

RAMBUNCTIOUS HAO HU

IS CONSTANTLY GETTING
IN MOM'S WAY...

...WHILE HAO BAO IS SHOWING
OFF
HIS TREE-CLIMBING SKILLS...

WITHOUT A SAFETY NET.

CUBS LIKE TO CLIMB, AND
THERE'S
AN IMPORTANT REASON WHY THEY
DO.

IN THE WILD,
THE HIGHER THEY GET,

THE SAFER THEY ARE.

IT LOOKS DANGEROUS,
BUT THE THINNER THE BRANCH,

THE HARDER IT IS FOR A
PREDATOR
LIKE A LEOPARD TO FOLLOW.

IN THE WILD, STAYING
OUT OF THE REACH OF PREDATORS

WOULD BE THE CUB'S ONLY
DEFENSE
WHILE MOM IS FORAGING FOR
FOOD.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS QUITE AS EASY
AS IT LOOKS.

BOTH BOYS ARE EATING SOLIDS
NOW,
BUT THEY'RE NOT FULLY WEANED.

XI XI IS STILL NURSING THEM,

AND THEY'RE ALSO
RECEIVING FORMULA

FROM THEIR KEEPERS.

THIS VOLUNTEER DOESN'T MIND
CLEANING UP AFTER THE TWINS,

AS LONG AS SHE GETS TO WATCH
THE CUBS GET THEIR DAILY
TREATS.

HE DOES IT TWICE A DAY,

AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
DEFINITELY THE HIGHLIGHT.

Black:
THE TWO BROTHERS DEFINITELY D

HAO BAO IS A BIT LESS ACTIVE
AND NOT AS CUNNING AS HAO
HU...

...WHO IS SMARTER
AND MORE THE TROUBLEMAKER.

BUT THEY'RE EQUALLY CUTE
AND ADORABLE.

AND THEY'LL SOMETIMES
JUMP ON THEIR KEEPER

WHEN HE GOES TO GIVE THEM
THEIR BOTTLES OF FORMULA.

THEY'RE REALLY CUTE ANIMALS.
IT MAKES THE DAY GO REALLY
WELL.

THE HARD WORK,
TOTALLY WORTH IT.

Black:
SOON, THEY'LL BE JOINING THE
OTHER FULL-TIME PANDA R

FOR THEIR DAILY FORAGING,

CLIMBING, WRESTLING,
AND SLEEPING.

EVERY NEW PANDA CUB RAISED
HERE

IS A STEP
CLOSER TO THE CENTER'S GOAL

OF REBUILDING A WILD
POPULATION.

EVERY CUB IS CAREFULLY
MONITORED

TO GAUGE ITS PLACE
IN THE MISSION.

JUST LIKE PEOPLE, SOME PANDAS
ARE MORE AMBITIOUS THAN
OTHERS.

LITTLE SHIN YUAN
MAY LOOK UNSURE OF HERSELF,

BUT AT ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD,
SHE'S
A PRECOCIOUS LITTLE TREE
CLIMBER

AND DEFINITELY NOT
BOTHERED BY HEIGHTS.

SHIN YUAN WILL BE WATCHED
AS SHE GROWS TO SEE

IF SHE'S READY
FOR THE NEXT STAGE

OF THE REWILDING PROGRAM.

ON THE OTHER END
OF THE SPECTRUM,

2-YEAR-OLD GONG GONG
THINKS HE'S A ROCK STAR

AND WANTS TO BE CATERED TO.

HE LOUNGES AROUND, WAITING
FOR HIS FOOD TO BE DELIVERED.

IF HE HAD TO GET HIS OWN
MEALS,
HE'D PROBABLY STARVE.

THESE 2-YEAR-OLDS HAVE BEEN
EATING SOLIDS FOR 18 MONTHS,

BUT A MILK TREAT GIVES THEM
A DAILY DOSE OF EXTRA
VITAMINS.

THEIR MOTHERS MAY BE FREE
FROM THESE TODDLERS

AND THEIR TERRIBLE TWOS,

BUT THEIR KEEPERS NEED TO MAKE
SURE STANDARDS DON'T SLIP.

NOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
THEIR MOMS TO ANNOY,

THE KEEPERS ARE FAIR GAME.

THESE KIDS ARE LIKE
AMBASSADORS

FOR THE GREAT
BREEDING SUCCESS STORY HERE.

THE CROWDS OF FANS ARE
DEFINITELY ENTERTAINED BY
THEM.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH,
AND THERE ARE BIG CHANGES

FOR SULIN AND HER CUB.

HE GETS MORE ALONE TIME,
AND AT 5 MONTHS,

HER BABY'S CONFIDENT ENOUGH

TO MAKE
HIS FIRST ATTEMPTS TO
CLIMBING.

IN THE WILD, STAYING
OUT OF THE REACH OF PREDATORS

WOULD BE THE CUB'S ONLY
DEFENSE

WHILE MOM IS OFF
FORAGING FOR FOOD.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS QUITE AS EASY
AS IT LOOKS.

A MONTH LATER, XI XI'S
BOISTEROUS BOYS

HAVE PACKED OFF TO
KINDERGARTEN.

XI XI IS NO LONGER
BEING HARASSED BY HER TWINS,

BUT AS SPRING ARRIVES,
THE KEEPERS ARE NOTICING

THAT SHE'S VOCALIZING
MORE THAN USUAL.

SHE'S RESTLESS...

HAS LOST INTEREST IN FOOD...

ALL CLASSIC SIGNS
THAT SHE'S GOING INTO HEAT.

IN THE NON-BREEDING SEASON,
FEMALES ARE REALLY, REALLY
CALM,

BUT IN THE MATING SEASON,
THEY WILL CHANGE

INTO VERY ACTIVE,
AGGRESSIVE FEMALES --

CHIRPING, BARKING,

OR, LIKE, WALKING AROUND.

Black: UNDERSTANDING THE
MYSTERIES OF PANDA COURTSHIP

HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY
AT THE CENTER.

FOR DECADES,
MALE PANDAS IN CAPTIVITY

JUST COULDN'T SEEM
TO SUMMON ANY INTEREST

WHEN IT CAME TO MAKING BABIES.

WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT THE REASON
FOR THIS BEHAVIOR.

Black: AND SINCE A FEMALE
PANDA'S ONLY SEXUALLY
RECEPTIVE

FOR BETWEEN ONE
AND THREE DAYS A YEAR,

THAT'S A VERY SMALL WINDOW
OF OPPORTUNITY.

SUDDENLY, I GOT IDEA.

HOW ABOUT WE ADD A COMPETITOR
FOR THIS MALE?

THE NORMAL BEHAVIOR
OF THE GIANT PANDAS

IS MANY, MANY FEMALES

OR THE MALES GET TOGETHER
DURING THE MATING SEASON.

Black: MOVING SUPER STUD
CASANOVA LU LU

AND GENTLE WU GANG
TO EITHER SIDE OF XI XI

WILL BRING OUT THE COMPETITIVE
INSTINCT IN THE GUYS.

COME ON, GUYS, IT'S
BASIC COURTSHIP PSYCHOLOGY.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

Liu: AND THEN THEY CAN BECOME
VERY ACTIVE IN, YOU KNOW,

MATING OR SHOW SOME INTEREST
IN THE FEMALE.

Black: LU LU CAN DETECT
THE PRESENCE OF WU GANG

AND KNOWING ANOTHER MALE
IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF XI XI

HELPS KICKS
HIS SEX DRIVE INTO GEAR.

[ PANDAS CHIRPING ]

WHEN XI XI'S
ABOUT TO ENTER PEAK ESTRUS,

LU LU WILL STAY BY HER SIDE
ALL DAY AND NIGHT.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, WU GANG
TAKES
A MORE LAID-BACK APPROACH.

BUT LU LU NEVER STOPS TRYING
TO ATTRACT XI XI'S ATTENTION.

[ PANDAS CHIRPING ]

AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.

BUT WHEN THINGS
GET TOO HOT AND HEAVY,

LU LU HAS HIS OWN WAY
OF COOLING THINGS DOWN.

THEY WILL RECORD WHICH OF THE
MALES DOES THE FEMALE LOVE --

LOVE MORE OR LOVE BETTER,

AND OF COURSE,
ONE OF THE MALES

WILL BE LUCKY ENOUGH
TO MATE WITH HER.

THE KEEPERS HAVE TO GET
THE MOMENT EXACTLY RIGHT.

[ CONVERSING IN MANDARIN ]

IF THE PANDAS
ARE PUT TOGETHER TOO SOON,

THEY COULD END UP FIGHTING.

Black:
DURING THE MATING SEASON,

THE KEEPERS MUST BE READY
TO ACT AT ANY MOMENT

WHEN FERTILE XI XI
SELECTS HER SUITOR.

SOMETIMES, YOU WILL SEE THEM,
LIKE, RAISE UP THEIR TAILS

TO THE MALE NEXT TO HER.

THAT'S A SIGN OF,
"I'M READY."

Black: AFTER HARDLY EATING
FOR TWO DAYS,

XI XI MAKES IT CLEAR
THAT LU LU IS THE GUY FOR HER.

[ PANDAS SQUEALING ]

THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE
WU GANG'S LUCKY DAY.

LU LU IS A KIND OF A SUPERSTAR
IN THIS PANDA BASE.

HE GOT SO MANY BABIES.

Black: FEMALE PANDAS TAKE
THE LEAD DURING MATING,

SO LETTING XI XI CHOOSE
HER PARTNER MAKES IT MORE
LIKELY

THAT SHE WILL BE MORE
RECEPTIVE
TO LU LU'S LOVING.

AFTER WAITING A YEAR
FOR THIS MOMENT,

EVERYTHING'S OVER
IN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES.

TYPICAL.

AND THE KEEPERS HAVE TO ACT
QUICKLY TO SEPARATE THE
PANDAS.

NO BASKING GOING ON HERE.

THE STAFF'S READY WITH TREATS
ON STICKS

IN CASE LU LU DOESN'T GET
THE HINT TO CLEAR OUT.

XI XI!

[ XI XI CHIRPS ]

AS THE DAY DRAWS TO A CLOSE,

XI XI'S
STILL IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE.

AND THIS TIME, IT'S WU GANG

WHO'S GETTING HER
ALL HOT AND BOTHERED.

IN THE WILD,
BOTH MALES AND FEMALES

MATE WITH DIFFERENT PARTNERS.

EACH YEAR,
FEMALES ARE ONLY FERTILE

BETWEEN ONE AND THREE DAYS,

SO IT MAKES SENSE
TO MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES

FOR SUCCESSFUL BREEDING.

WU GANG SEEMS LESS CONFIDENT
THAN LU LU

AND APPARENTLY HASN'T READ
THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL.

LOOKS LIKE HE'S GIVING HER
A MASSAGE MORE THAN MATING.

[ PANDAS SQUEALING ]

BUT HE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE,

AND EVENTUALLY,
HE FINDS HIS MOJO.

WHEN XI XI HAS HAD ENOUGH,

WU GANG TAKES
A LITTLE MORE PERSUADING

THAT IT'S ALL OVER.

ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS FEROCIOUS,

THIS FIGHTING IS A NATURAL
PART
OF THE PROCESS

AND RARELY RESULTS
IN SERIOUS INJURY.

XI XI SEEMS TO HAVE PLENTY
OF ENERGY LEFT,

BUT THE KEEPERS DECIDE
IT'S LIGHTS OUT FOR TONIGHT.

WITH TWO SUCCESSFUL MATINGS,

SHE HAS A GOOD CHANCE
OF DELIVERING A CUB OR EVEN
TWO.

PANDA REPRODUCTION
IS STILL A HIT-OR-MISS
BUSINESS.

IT'LL BE MONTHS
BEFORE THE TEAM

KNOWS WHETHER
SHE'S DEFINITELY PREGNANT.

AS FAR AS THIS YEAR'S
CUBS ARE CONCERNED,

THEY ARE THRIVING.

SHUI XIU'S TWINS ARE STILL
ON THEIR SWAP-RAISING ROTATION

OF FIVE DAYS WITH MOM
AND FIVE IN THE NURSERY.

THEY'RE BLISSFULLY UNAWARE

THAT THEIR LITTLE LIVES
ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER.

AFTER FIVE MONTHS
OF ONLY ENTRUSTING SHUI XIU

WITH ONE CUB AT A TIME,

HER KEEPERS HAVE DECIDED
THAT IT'S TIME

TO RISK GIVING HER
BOTH CUBS AT ONCE.

HER DAUGHTER, LIU LIU,

IS FINISHING
HER FIVE-DAY NURSERY ROTATION.

SHE'S GOT MOST
OF HER BABY TEETH NOW,

BUT DRINKING MILK FROM THE
BOWL
IS STILL A LITTLE TRICKY.

TODAY WILL BE
A WHOLE NEW CHAPTER

FOR HER AND HER TWIN, QIQI,

WHEN THEY MEET
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THEIR MOM IS SUDDENLY GOING
TO BE FACED

WITH TWO CUBS INSTEAD OF ONE.

NO ONE KNOWS
HOW SHUI XIU WILL REACT.

SHE'S BROUGHT
INSIDE HER ENCLOSURE

WHILE THE KEEPERS
PREPARE TO REUNITE THE CUBS.

SOME MOTHERS HAVE BEEN KNOWN
TO REJECT ONE TWIN,

EVEN AT THIS LATE STAGE.

THERE'S ALWAYS A DANGER
SHE'LL FAVOR ONE OVER THE
OTHER.

REGULAR WEIGH-INS WILL ALLOW
THE KEEPERS TO MONITOR

WHETHER BOTH CUBS ARE GETTING
ENOUGH OF MOM'S MILK

WHILE IN HER CARE.

BABY LIU LIU NEEDS
A GOOD RUBDOWN WITH MOM'S POOP

TO HELP HER FIT RIGHT BACK
IN WITH THE FAMILY.

BOTH CUBS HAVE BEEN ENJOYING
ONLY-CHILD STATUS UP TO NOW.

[ QIQI GROWLS ]

LITTLE QIQI DOESN'T TAKE
TOO KINDLY TO THIS INTRUSION.

SHUI XIU IS RELEASED.

THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

Black: SHUI XIU'S TWINS,
LIU LIU AND QIQI,

ARE ALREADY DUKING IT OUT...

SHOWING SIGNS
OF HEALTHY SIBLING RIVALRY.

BUT IT'S HOW SHE WILL REACT

TO MEETING BOTH CUBS TOGETHER
THAT HAS EVERYONE NERVOUS.

LU LU IMMEDIATELY
GETS INSPECTED.

BUT THEN SHUI XIU GETS UP
AND LEAVES THE DEN.

THESE FIRST MOMENTS ARE
CRUCIAL.

SEEING DOUBLE COULD BE MAKING
SHUI XIU FEEL OVERWHELMED.

BUT IT TURNS OUT,

SHE'S JUST ANSWERING
A CALL OF NATURE.

WHEN SHE RETURNS, LITTLE QIQI
GETS MOM'S FULL ATTENTION.

THEY MIGHT HAVE
MYSTERIOUSLY DOUBLED,

BUT SHUI XIU CLEARLY KNOWS
THESE ARE BOTH HER CUBS.

AND IT LOOKS
LIKE THERE'S GONNA BE ROOM

FOR EVERYONE IN THIS FAMILY.

THE SUCCESS OF SWAP-RAISING

IS A REAL ACHIEVEMENT
FOR THE CENTER.

EVERY TWIN SAVED IS A PANDA

THAT WOULD HAVE ALMOST
CERTAINLY
DIED IF BORN IN THE WILD.

AND WITH SO FEW LEFT
IN THE WORLD,

EVERY PANDA COUNTS.

INCREASING CUB NUMBERS
LIKE THIS

REQUIRES CLOSE CONTACT
WITH PEOPLE.

AND THAT HAS CONSEQUENCES

FOR THE FUTURE
OF THESE KINDERGARTEN CUBS.

CUBS RAISED AT BIFENGXIA
ALREADY HAD TOO MUCH CONTACT

WITH PEOPLE TO EVER BE SAFELY
RELEASED INTO THE WILD.

200 YEARS AGO, PANDAS
USED TO RANGE FREELY

OVER MOUNTAINS LIKE THESE.

BUT AS THE HUMAN
POPULATION GROWS,

PEOPLE AND PANDAS
ARE INCREASINGLY

IN COMPETITION
FOR PLACES TO LIVE.

A LOSS
OF HABITAT FORCES THE PANDA

INTO SMALLER
AND SMALLER POCKETS OF FOREST.

INBREEDING IS BECOMING
A SERIOUS THREAT.

IT'S HARD TO FIND
A SUITABLE MATE

WHEN EVERYONE
YOU MEET IS RELATED.

CHINA'S WORKING TOWARDS
CREATING
PROTECTED CORRIDORS

OF WILDERNESS TO LINK
EXISTING PANDA HABITATS

SO WILD PANDAS
CAN RANGE MORE WIDELY,

AND DIFFERENT GROUPS
CAN INTERACT.

FOR NOW,
INTRODUCING NEW BLOODLINES

BY RELEASING
CAPTIVE-BRED INDIVIDUALS

IS THE WILD PANDA'S BEST HOPE.

THE GOAL IS TO HAVE LESS
THAN 10 PANDAS

IN A SPECIFIC AREA
TO TRY TO INCREASE

THEIR GENETIC DIVERSITY.

THIS IS THE MISSION
OF THE PANDA CENTER'S OTHER
BASE

IN THE REMOTE MOUNTAINS
OF WOLONG.

HERE, A BOLD EXPERIMENT
IS TAKING PLACE.

THE UNIFORM
IS A PANDA COSTUME,

AND CLOSED CIRCUIT TV
IS USED TO MONITOR CUBS

THAT HAVE THE BEST CHANCE
OF BEING RELEASED INTO THE
WILD.

THERE ARE NO VOLUNTEERS
AND NO TOURISTS AT WOLONG.

THIS BASE IS ALL ABOUT KEEPING

IT FOCUSED
ON REWILDING THE PANDA.

WE USE A VERY INNOVATIVE WAY
TO TREATING THOSE PANDAS.

WE MOVE THE PREGNANT FEMALE
FROM BIFENGXIA,

THEN TO PUT THEM
IN WOLONG BREEDING CENTER.

THEY WILL GIVE BIRTH
IN THE WILD,

A VERY OPEN AREA
WITHOUT ANY HUMAN
INTERFERENCE.

Black: EACH CUB HERE IS RAISED
BY ITS MOTHER

ON ALMOST NINE ACRES
OF SEMI-WILD ENCLOSURES.

THEY ARE WATCHED TO SEE

IF THEY ARE SUITABLE
FOR THE REWILDING PROGRAM.

MAKING SURE THAT THEY DON'T
GET USED TO HUMANS

IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

UNLIKE THE CUBS, HOWEVER,
THE ADULT MOMS LIKE NA NA

GREW UP AROUND PEOPLE
BEFORE BEING MOVED TO WOLONG,

SO THEY DO KNOW
WHO'S INSIDE THE PANDA
COSTUME.

HER KEEPER TOOK CARE OF HER
WHEN
SHE WAS DELIVERING HER BABY.

LIKE MOST
OF THE OTHER MOMS HERE,

NA NA WAS BORN IN CAPTIVITY,

BUT SHE WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE OF
HER NATURAL INSTINCTS.

SHE'S AN EXPERT
CLIMBER AND FORAGER,

AND THE PROGRAM RELIES ON HER
TEACHING THESE SKILLS

TO HER CUB.

A LOT'S RIDING ON
THOSE FURRY SHOULDERS OF HERS.

AND THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES

EVERY RELEASE
WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

BACK IN 2006,
THE FIRST CAPTIVE PANDA

THAT WAS RELEASED
GOT INTO A FIGHT

AND DIED WITHIN A YEAR.

IT WAS A HEARTBREAKING RESULT
FOR EVERYONE.

BUT JUST AS
THE REWILDING PROGRAM

WAS GETTING BACK ON TRACK,

THERE WAS ANOTHER
DEVASTATING SETBACK...

...ONE THAT NOBODY
COULD HAVE FORESEEN.

Black: MAY 12, 2008, STARTED
OUT
AS A TYPICAL SPRING DAY.

BUT JUST AFTER 2:30 P.M...

...ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE
EARTHQUAKES EVER RECORDED

HIT SICHUAN, CHINA.

ITS EPICENTER
WAS JUST SEVEN MILES

FROM THE WOLONG PANDA BASE.

THOUSANDS OF TONS OF ROCKS
FELL DOWN FROM THE HILLTOP.

THERE ARE TWO PANDAS
LIVING IN THE AREA.

THE WOLONG TEAM WAS AFRAID
THAT THEY MAY HAVE PERISHED.

LUCKILY, THE PANDAS
HID IN A SAFE PLACE,

AND THE TEAM FOUND THEM RIGHT
UNDER A HUGE, FALLEN ROCK.

FIVE STAFF MEMBERS
AND ONE CAPTIVE PANDA

DIED IN THE EARTHQUAKE
THAT CLAIMED

OVER 70,000 HUMAN LIVES
ACROSS CHINA.

KEEPERS AND LOCAL PEOPLE

RISKED THEIR OWN LIVES
TO RESCUE THE PANDAS.

NO ONE KNOWS HOW MANY
WILD PANDAS WERE KILLED,

BUT ACRES OF BAMBOO FOREST
WERE
DESTROYED IN THE
CATASTROPHE...

HABITAT THE PANDA
COULD NOT AFFORD TO LOSE.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
THE REWILDING CENTER

AND THE LOCAL VILLAGE THAT
SUPPLIES BAMBOO FOR THE PANDAS

BEGAN REBUILDING.

NOW MORE THAN EVER,
THIS UNIQUE ANIMAL

NEEDED EVERYONE'S HELP
TO SURVIVE.

AT 3 MONTHS OLD,
NA NA'S CUB

IS JUST STARTING
TO LEARN FROM HER MOM.

SO, IF YOUNG PANDAS
HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY

TO LEARN MANY, MANY THINGS
FROM THEIR MOTHERS.

SO THAT THEY CAN KNOW

HOW TO EVALUATE
THEIR APPEARANCE,

OR THIS IS A YOUNG ONE,
OR THAT'S A FEMALE,

OR THAT ONE IS AN ADULT.

SO THAT THEY CAN --
YOU KNOW, TO MAKE WISE
DECISIONS

TO AVOID OR FIGHT,

OR, YOU KNOW, SAY HI.

Black: 2-YEAR-OLD SHIN YUAN
IS A TEENAGER IN PANDA TERMS.

AND IT'S NO LONGER COOL

TO HANG OUT WITH HER MOM,
WAN QIN.

HER PANDA SKILLS HAVE BEEN
CLOSELY SCRUTINIZED SINCE
BIRTH.

SURVEILLANCE HAS SHOWN SHE HAS
NO PROBLEM LOOKING AFTER
HERSELF

AND FINDING HER OWN MEALS.

SHIN YUAN
LIKES TO BE ALONE

AND AVOIDS CONTACT
WITH THE KEEPERS.

HER INDEPENDENCE
HAS CONVINCED THE TEAM

THAT SHE'S READY
TO START HER BIG ADVENTURE

AS A TRULY WILD PANDA.

THEY JUST HAVE
TO CATCH HER FIRST.

THIS'LL BE A LONG, ARDUOUS DAY
FOR THE REWILDING TEAM.

SHIN YUAN'S ENCLOSURE

IS THE SIZE
OF SEVEN FOOTBALL FIELDS,

AND SHE COULD BE ANYWHERE
ON THE STEEP HILLSIDE.

SPOTTING HER THROUGH THE
NETWORK
OF SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

WILL GIVE THE TEAM
A HEAD START.

THEY'LL LOOK FOR HER MOM,
WAN QIN, FIRST,

THEN LET HER LEAD THEM TO
THE REBELLIOUS TEEN SHIN YUAN.

LOCAL VILLAGERS HELP CARRY
THE TRANSPORT CAGE

UP THE MOUNTAINSIDE.

IT'S A DANGEROUS TREK.

THE CAGE IS VERY HEAVY
AND HARD TO CARRY.

IT'S MUDDY, AND THE ROCKS
ARE SLIPPERY AND UNSTABLE.

AS THEY GET CLOSER TO WHERE
SHIN YUAN WAS LAST SPOTTED,

THE TEAM PUTS ON
THEIR PANDA SUITS

BEFORE ENTERING THE ENCLOSURE.

SHIN YUAN IS WEARING
A RADIO COLLAR,

BUT THE SIGNAL ISN'T VERY
CLEAR,

SO SHE MUST NOT BE CLOSE BY.

THE TEAM HEADS FURTHER
UP THE HILL.

THE SIGNAL IS STRONGER HERE.

AND THE KEEPERS
MOVE INTO THE ENCLOSURE.

SHIN YUAN'S MOM,
WAN QIN, HAS SEEN IT ALL
BEFORE.

BUT SHIN YUAN
IS NOT PLAYING BALL.

SHE'S RETREATED
TO HER FAVORITE SPOT --

THE TOP OF A TREE.

AND SHE'S NOT BUDGING.

HER WILD EDUCATION HAS BEEN
A LITTLE TOO SUCCESSFUL.

THEY DON'T WANT
TO TRANQUILIZE HER.

SHE'D HAVE TO BE
KNOCKED OUT AGAIN

FOR HER FINAL MEDICAL EXAM,

AND EVERY INTERVENTION
HAS ITS RISKS.

FORTUNATELY, THERE IS
A PLAN "B."

THEY'LL TAKE XUE XUE INSTEAD.

JUST 2 WEEKS YOUNGER
THAN SHIN YUAN,

2-YEAR-OLD XUE XUE IS ON TRACK
FOR RELEASE NEXT MONTH.

SWAPPING THEIR RELEASE DATES

MAKES NO DIFFERENCE
TO THE PROGRAM.

XUE XUE SEEMS MORE INTERESTED
IN THE FOOD THAN SHIN YUAN
WAS.

SHE TAKES A FEW TENTATIVE
STEPS
TOWARD THE CAGE.

SHE'S IN!

STAGE ONE IS COMPLETE.

NOW THE TEAM HAS TO GET HER
INTO THE TRANSPORT CAGE

FOR THE TRIP DOWN THE
MOUNTAIN.

HER REACTION SHOWS JUST HOW
MUCH
SHE'S BEEN TRAINED FOR THE
WILD.

SHE'S NOT USED TO PEOPLE,
EVEN THOSE IN PANDA SUITS,

AND DEFINITELY NOT FAMILIAR
WITH CAGES.

FINALLY, WITH A LITTLE
ENCOURAGEMENT, SHE'S INSIDE.

SHE'LL GET
A FULL PHYSICAL TOMORROW

TO MAKE SURE
SHE'S IN GOOD HEALTH.

MANY YEARS OF RESEARCH
AND HARD WORK

HAVE GONE INTO PREPARING
FOR THIS IMPORTANT RELEASE.

BUT XUE XUE WILL HAVE TO PASS
HER MEDICAL EXAM WITH NO
ISSUES,

OR THE RELEASE
WILL BE CALLED OFF.

Black: SNOW HAS FALLEN UP
IN THE MOUNTAINS

AT THE WOLONG REWILDING
CENTER.

PANDAS LOVE SNOW.

IT SPARKS THEM TO PLAY
AND FROLIC.

FOR AN ANIMAL
THAT NORMALLY RIVALS THE SLOTH

FOR THEIR LEISURELY PERSONA,
THIS IS A RARE BEHAVIOR.

IN FACT, A PANDA'S METABOLISM
IS SO SLOW,

EVEN AT ITS MOST ENERGETIC,

A PANDA IS EXPENDING LESS
ENERGY
THAN A RESTING HUMAN.

THE PANDA'S THICK COAT OF FUR
INSULATES THEM AGAINST THE
COLD.

TODAY COULD BE THE MOST
IMPORTANT DAY

OF THE 2-YEAR-OLD XUE XUE'S
YOUNG LIFE.

IN A FEW HOURS,

SHE'LL EITHER BE BACK
IN HER COMPOUND

OR SETTING OFF
ON THE ADVENTURE OF A
LIFETIME.

THE LAST EXAM IS VERY
IMPORTANT

BECAUSE WE WILL WANT
TO KNOW HOW SHE WEIGHS

AND THE BODY SIZE.

SO, THIS IS THE LAST TEST
FOR THE RELEASING PANDA.

Black: THE TEAM MOVES QUICKLY
TO GET SEDATED XUE XUE

TO THE EXAM ROOM.

ALL THE DATA
FROM TODAY WILL HELP MEASURE

HOW WELL SHE'S COPING
IN THE WILD.

SHE RECEIVES A MICROCHIP
TO MAKE SURE

THAT SHE CAN ALWAYS
BE IDENTIFIED...

...AND IS FITTED
WITH A NEW RADIO COLLAR

SO THE SCIENTISTS
CAN CONTINUE TO TRACK

AND MONITOR HER MOVEMENTS.

THIS'LL PROVIDE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ON HOW FAR SHE'S TRAVELING.

A FIELD TEAM WILL COLLECT
SAMPLES OF HER FECES

FOR ONGOING HEALTH CHECKUPS.

SHE WEIGHS OVER 20 POUNDS
HEAVIER THAN THE LAST TWO
PANDAS

THAT WERE RELEASED
INTO THE WILD.

XUE XUE GETS THE ALL-CLEAR.

THE NEXT MORNING,
SHE'S ON HER WAY

TO BECOMING
ONLY THE FOURTH CAPTIVE PANDA

TO EVER BE RELEASED
INTO THE WILD.

SHE'S GIVEN A FEW SNACKS
FOR THE FIVE-HOUR JOURNEY.

THERE'S ONE LAST PIC.

FINAL SAFETY CHECK.

AND THE PRECIOUS CARGO IS ON
HER WAY TO THE RELEASE POINT.

BACK AT THE BIFENGXIA
BREEDING CENTER,

THE NEW GENERATION OF CUBS

ARE GROWING FAST
AND DOING VERY WELL.

MOM SULIN HAS FOUND
A GOOD VANTAGE POINT

FOR KEEPING AN EYE ON HER CUB.

AT 6 MONTHS OLD, HE'S ALREADY
A HEARTTHROB WITH THE CROWDS.

HE'S STARTING TO EAT BAMBOO
AND LOOKING OUT

FOR ANYTHING ELSE
THAT MIGHT BE WORTH EATING.

BUT IT'LL STILL BE MONTHS
BEFORE HE'S FULLY WEANED.

AND MAMA SHUI XIU'S
TWIN CUBS

ARE BOTH HEALTHY AND THRIVING.

LITTLE QIQI'S
A REAL MAMA'S BOY

AND STICKS CLOSE TO HER.

WHILE BABY LIU LIU HAS
AN INDEPENDENT SPIRIT

AND LOVES EXPLORING HER WORLD.

HANGING OUT WITH HUMANS
SINCE BIRTH MEANS BABY LIU LIU

WON'T BE ELIGIBLE
FOR THE RELEASE PROGRAM.

IF SHE SHOWS AN APTITUDE
FOR SURVIVAL SKILLS,

THEN SHE MIGHT BE MOVED
TO WOLONG,

WHERE HER CUBS COULD HAVE
A CHANCE OF A LIFE IN THE
WILD.

RIGHT NOW,
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

ALL DEPENDS ON ONE SMALL PANDA

FACING THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
OF HER LIFE.

XUE XUE IS ABOUT TO BE
RELEASED
INTO AN AREA

OF PROTECTED WILDERNESS
90 MILES AWAY.

THE TWO PANDAS THAT HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFULLY REWILDED SO FAR

WERE BOTH RAISED BY MOTHERS
WHO HAD COME FROM THE WILD.

TAU TAU
WAS RELEASED IN 2012,

AND ZANG XIANG IN 2013.

BUT XUE XUE'S MOM WAS BORN
AT THE PANDA BREEDING CENTER,

MAKING HER RELEASE
EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT.

IT COULD MEAN
THAT MORE CAPTIVE-BRED PANDAS

COULD BE PLACED BACK
INTO THE WILD SUCCESSFULLY.

HER RELEASE IS THE CULMINATION

OF YEARS OF RESEARCH,
DEDICATION,

AND HOPE BY THE TEAMS
AT BOTH BIFENGXIA AND WOLONG.

IT TAKES XUE XUE
A FEW MINUTES

TO GET ADJUSTED
TO HER NEW SURROUNDINGS,

BUT THEN SHE HEADS
TOWARD THE FOREST

TO BEGIN HER NEW LIFE
OUT IN THE WILD.

MORE THAN A MONTH LATER,
2-YEAR-OLD SHIN YUAN

DIED OF AN ILLNESS
AT WOLONG RESERVE.

THREE DAYS LATER,
XUE XUE

ALSO SUCCUMBED TO A DISEASE
IN THE WILD.

THE REWILDING METHOD
IS STILL SO NEW FOR
RESEARCHERS.

ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN
SUCCESS,

EVERY RELEASE
IS AN EXPERIMENT...

FULL OF RISK
AND POSSIBLE FAILURE.

BUT IT'S A RISK
THE TEAM IS WILLING TO TAKE

TO ENSURE THE GIANT PANDA
WILL SURVIVE INTO THE FUTURE.

THEY'RE DETERMINED
TO CONTINUE TRYING

TO SAVE THESE BELOVED BEARS.

EACH ANIMAL ON THE EARTH
IS IMPORTANT FOR US --

FOR THE HUMAN BEINGS,
FOR OUR HEALTH, EVERYTHING,

SO NOT ONLY FOR THE PANDA,
FOR ALL THE ANIMALS,

ALL THE LIVING THINGS
HAVE THE RIGHT

TO LIVE ON THE EARTH.