Panda base officials deny abusing animals after mite infection scandal

Officials at China’s world-famous panda center denounced as an “organized malicious attack” a series of social media posts and viral videos suggesting the base abuses the bears.

At a press conference on Thursday, Wang Chengdong, deputy director of Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding denied they mistreated pandas with mite infections.

A deleted article circulating on Chinese social media depicts the base maltreating pandas and alleged that staff had failed to cure panda Meng Lan, who reportedly suffered from inflammation of the spinal cord, or myelitis.

The facility was also charging tourists 1,000 yuan ($156) to take photos with pandas, breaking the rules, the post said.

Although the original post was taken down, the claims sparked outrage among internet users.

In a statement emailed to the Global Times on Thursday, the center said the Sina Weibo post was “out of accordance with fact,” and it published details of Meng Lan’s treatment in May and July.

“We never asked a fee from anyone to take photos with pandas,” the statement read. “The only people who can approach pandas are breeders, veterinarians, apprentices, researchers and volunteers.”

The base had received a large number of “vicious attacks” online in the past year. “The base even closed down comments in November 2017 in order to relieve the scientific researchers’ psychological burden and maintain order,” read the statement.

Pandas were easily infected in the humid Sichuan environment where bacteria spreads easily, officials told media. Similar symptoms had affected pandas in the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan, media reported.