On June 30, 2024, a driver passing through Longdong Town in Baoxing County, Ya’an City, Sichuan Province, had an unexpected encounter with a wild giant panda along the S432 highway.
The panda leisurely crossed the road, seemingly unbothered by the presence of humans. It strolled casually, coming as close as one meter to the driver’s vehicle. As it crossed, the panda paused briefly, glanced at the driver who was filming, and then continued on its way. When the panda reached the rear of the car, the driver whistled at it, prompting the panda to turn and look back calmly before walking away. Some netizens joked that this panda seemed very experienced, possibly thinking, “What’s with the whistling? Haven’t you seen a giant panda before?”
According to the forestry department, the panda is an adult and in good health. Thanks to increased conservation efforts, the natural environment in Baoxing County has been continuously improving. Recently, there have been multiple sightings of wild giant pandas in Longdong Town. Baoxing is renowned as the discovery site of the world’s first scientifically recognized giant panda and the origin of its type specimen. The area is home to 181 wild giant pandas, with 81.7% of its area included in the Giant Panda National Park, earning it the nickname “The Home of the Giant Panda.”
