TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Zoo’s panda caretaker Chao Lan-hsuan (趙蘭軒) has shared her 14 years of experience caring for three female pandas, including insights into their personalities, daily routines, and the zoo’s breeding plan.

Chao said that 21-year-old Yuan Yuan is intelligent but aging. Yuan Zai, her 12-year-old first cub with the late Tuan Tuan, is friendly, while their 5-year-old second cub, Yuan Bao is energetic and bears a strong resemblance to her father.

The zoo’s panda pavilion features two indoor and one outdoor exhibit areas designed to mimic a panda habitat. The indoor spaces include pools and multi-level climbing structures, while the outdoor area offers rolling hills, vegetation, and climbing facilities. Since pandas are most comfortable in temperatures below 25 C, they typically remain indoors during the summer months.

Chao said that keepers’ duties include feeding, cleaning, health monitoring, and behavioral training. Each panda consumes up to five meals a day, including about 20 to 30 kilograms of bamboo leaves, along with smaller portions of fruit and cornmeal buns. She said bamboo provides essential protein and supports the animals’ digestive health.

Chao added the team weighs the pandas and checks their physical and mental condition each morning. In the afternoon, they conduct dental care and basic health checks. To encourage movement, caretakers also offer toys and hide food throughout the pandas’ activity areas.

As Yuan Yuan grows older, the team regularly provides her with treatments such as laser therapy, Chao said. Caretakers also assist the pandas with socialization training.  

Chao shared that one of her most challenging moments came during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel restrictions prevented Chinese experts from coming to Taiwan to assist with hand-rearing a newborn cub, Yuan Bao. The team had to care for the panda on their own, Chao said. 

The staff handled all aspects of feeding and nursing, with some team members staying in the zoo for 10 consecutive days to provide round-the-clock care. She added that unexpected situations often arise in animal care and require close teamwork to manage. 

The zoo remains in contact with a panda conservation center in China’s Sichuan to explore the possibility of acquiring new pandas or breeding through pairings, Chao said. She added any decision must consider whether new additions would contribute to genetic diversity.  

The daily noise and activity from visitors does not significantly affect the pandas, Chao observed. However, she noted that during the zoo’s annual 10-day closure in June, the animals typically sleep more soundly.

While most visitors admire the pandas for their cuteness, Chao hopes the public will also learn about their behaviors and the challenges they face in the wild. 

In June and July, the zoo celebrated the birthdays of Yuan Zai and Yuan Bao with cakes made from bamboo, bamboo leaves, fruit, and ice.