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​Pandas Are So Ill Their Black Eye Circles Are Turning White

​Pandas Are So Ill Their Black Eye Circles Are Turning White

According to Chinese social media users, pandas at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base aren't being cared for properly.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Pandas are like the cute goth kids of the animal world, so the thought of any harm coming to them is just truly harrowing. Sadly, a famous panda-breeding centre has reportedly committed this unforgivable crime by mistreating the cuddly bears so badly that their black eye circles have turned white.

According to users of the popular Chinese internet site Weibo, pandas at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base - a non-profit research and breeding facility for pandas and other rare animals, which is located in Sichuan, China - have not been cared for properly, leading to parasites, lethargy, and a loss of black fur.

Several pictures were shared earlier this month, showing pandas lying on the ground with faded black eye circles. One user claimed to have seen one with skin irritation caused by mites, while another shared a picture showing two-year-old Xiao Ya with faded eye fur.

Weibo / ji dong de hui se chao fan

The photos are a sorry sight and unsurprisingly the centre has faced a devastating backlash for both abuse and for forcing the pandas to pose for pictures with eager tourists. This has come as quite a shock considering the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base is the world's largest artificial breeding population of captive pandas. Surely such a highly regarded and specialized centre should provide the best panda care?

The base has since responded to deny allegations of abuse, claiming it has not gained financially from photography programmes with its pandas.

A spokesperson added they are aware of the images, but cannot figure out the symptoms for the whiteouts. Well, let's hope they "figure it out" soon, because no one wants to see these massive fluffy bear cubs suffer. They're basically like giant dogs:

Wang Chengdong, a panda expert working for the centre, claimed he is fully aware of what's going down, but has not found a solution to the many pandas sustaining 'whitening eye circles'. Wah.

To add to the devastatingly depressing news, apparently this isn't the first time the research base has been mired in controversy, as it was previously accused of the mistreatment of pandas. Just last year, several employees were caught violently handling bear cubs (it's hard to write that sentence without shedding a tear).

Let's hope the eye-changing pigment in today's story has nothing to do with abuse and mistreatment, and nothing to do with past scandals. Because, as said, no one wants to see animals suffer.

Words: Daisy Phillipson

Featured Image Credit: Weibo / ji dong de hui se chao fan

Topics: World News, Animals, China