The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding released a statement on Saturday to dispel public concerns over the health condition of a panda couple living at Zoo Atlanta in the US, saying that the two pandas are in good health and the research base is maintaining smooth communication with the zoo to tackle problems arising with the pandas.
According to the statement released via the WeChat account of the research base, giant panda enthusiasts have been concerned about the physical condition of the male panda Yang Yang and female Lun Lun following a viral video showed Yang Yang foaming at the mouth, vomiting, suffering diarrhea, and even appearing unconscious.
When giant pandas engage in extensive physical activities or move around a lot, they may develop foam around their mouths, which was cited as the reason by both US and Chinese panda specialists, said the statement.
The research base also noted that both Chinese and the US experts confirmed that Yang Yang was discharging feces wrapped by mucus formed in its intestinal tract through its mouth, which was misunderstood as vomiting by panda fans.
Giant pandas discharging mucus is caused by mild intestinal discomfort which often accompanies behaviors such as vomiting, crouching and refusing to eat. However, after they finish discharging the mucus, they will resume their normal diet with no ongoing negative effects, it said.
