Chinese girl has close encounter with giant pandas after falling into their enclosure
- Visitors watch in horror as security guards at reserve in Sichuan province struggle to pull youngster to safety
- Laid-back bears show their curiosity but make no attempt to harm child
A young girl had a frightening encounter with three giant pandas on Saturday after falling into their enclosure at a reserve in southwest China.
The child, who was not identified but appeared to be of primary school age, fell about two metres (6½ feet) into a trench surrounding the bear’s grassy mound at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan province, Beijing Youth Daily reported on Sunday.
Footage of the incident showed one of the bears approaching the crying child as scores of people stood and watched. However, it appeared to be only curious and made no attempt to the climb down into the ditch.
After efforts to rescue the child using a thin pole failed, a security guard leaned through a gap in the fence and despite losing his cap in the process managed to pull her to safety.
As the dramatic rescue unfolded, two more bears ambled over to watch, but they too appeared more curious than threatening.
Despite the girl’s ordeal, a member of staff defended the safety measures in place at the reserve.
