Original subtitles

Black: FOR 3 MILLION YEARS, THE GIANT PANDA

Downloaded from YTS.MX

HAS ROAMED ACROSS SOUTHEAST ASIA.

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

BUT THEIR HABITAT IS DISAPPEARING,

AND THIS ANCIENT BEAR IS RUNNING OUT OF PLACES TO LIVE.

THE REMOTE MOUNTAINS OF SICHUAN, CHINA,

ARE NOW THE LAST REFUGE FOR THE WILD PANDA.

WITH LESS THAN 2,000 LEFT IN THE WILD,

THEY'RE NOW EDGING CLOSER TO EXTINCTION.

BUT HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR THESE GENTLE GIANTS.

TWO PANDA CENTERS IN CHINA

ARE DETERMINED TO SAVE THESE CUTE BLACK-AND-WHITE BEARS

WITH NEW, CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH.

THE FIRST AT BIFENGXIA HAS BEEN DEDICATED

TO TRANSFORMING THE BREEDING AND SURVIVAL RATE

OF PANDAS BORN IN CAPTIVITY.

WHILE THE SECOND AT WOLONG HAS LAUNCHED

THEIR MOST AMBITIOUS MISSION TO DATE.

BREEDING PANDAS THAT CAN BE RELEASED INTO THE WILD.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

WORLDWIDE, THERE WERE JUST UNDER 400 PANDAS

BEING CARED FOR IN CAPTIVITY.

AND OVER 100 LIVE AT THE SICHUAN BASES

AT THE CHINA CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH CENTER

FOR THE GIANT PANDA.

THANKS TO THE SUCCESS OF THE BREEDING PROGRAM,

NEW GUESTS ARE ARRIVING ALL THE TIME.

IMAGES OF PANDAS ARE EVERYWHERE IN CHINA,

BUT THE PANDA CENSUS COMPLETED THIS YEAR

COUNTED LESS THAN 2,000 STILL SURVIVING IN THE WILD.

AS HUMAN POPULATIONS GROW, PEOPLE AND PANDAS

ARE INCREASINGLY IN COMPETITION FOR LIVING SPACE.

THE VASTNESS OF THE FOREST

HAS BEEN BROKEN UP INTO SMALLER, ISOLATED POCKETS.

AND MANY PANDAS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES TRAPPED

IN AREAS TOO SMALL TO SUSTAIN A HEALTHY BREEDING POPULATION.

AND THIS COULD MEAN THAT, WITHIN 50 TO 100 YEARS,

PANDAS WOULD BECOME EXTINCT IF NOTHING IS DONE TO SAVE THEM.

ZHANG HEMIN IS THE DIRECTOR OF CHINA CONSERVATION

AND RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE GIANT PANDA.

AND FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS,

HE'S MADE IT HIS MISSION TO PROTECT THESE GENTLE GIANTS.

HE'S LEADING A HUGELY AMBITIOUS PROJECT

WITH TWO DISTINCT OBJECTIVES.

FIRST, INCREASE NUMBERS VIA A CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM

WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF 500 PANDAS.

THE SECOND GOAL IS EVEN MORE CHALLENGING --

TRAIN AND RELEASE CAPTIVE-BRED PANDAS INTO THE WILD.

THE REWILDING PROJECT HAPPENS IN A REMOTE VALLEY

IN SICHUAN, CHINA,

AT WOLONG PANDA BASE.

PANDAS HERE LIVE IN A SEMI-WILD ENVIRONMENT,

DESIGNED TO PREPARE GROWING CUBS

TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND LIVE WITHOUT HUMAN CONTACT.

THE MANDATORY UNIFORM FOR KEEPERS AT WOLONG

IS A PANDA ONESIE...

PANDA WITH GLASSES.

Black: ...SO THAT IMPRESSIONABLE CUBS

DON'T GET USED TO SEEING HUMANS.

BUT EVERYTHING STARTS WITH THE BREEDING CENTER PROGRAM

AT BIFENGXIA.

THE CENTER IS HOME TO ONE OF CHINA'S

MOST SUCCESSFUL CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAMS.

THE MISSION HERE IS TO INCREASE THE POPULATION

AND ULTIMATELY RETURN THESE UNIQUE BEARS TO THE WILD.

IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK.

IT ALL STARTS WITH THE BABIES.

OVER 60 PANDAS ARE CARED FOR HERE,

AND THREE ARE GETTING A LOT OF SPECIAL ATTENTION.

THEY'RE ON PREGNANCY WATCH.

9-YEAR-OLD SULIN HAS LOST HER APPETITE.

LIKE ALL PANDAS,

SULIN COULD NORMALLY SPEND UP TO 12 HOURS A DAY EATING.

SO THIS MAY BE A SIGN THAT A CUB IS ON THE WAY.

NOW THIS PLAYFUL PANDA IS MORE INTERESTED IN HER KEEPER

THAN THE FOOD THAT USUALLY TEMPTS HER

ONTO THE SCALES FOR HER DAILY WEIGH-IN.

SULIN WAS BORN IN SAN DIEGO ZOO.

FOUR YEARS AGO, SHE ARRIVED IN CHINA

TO JOIN THE BREEDING PROGRAM

AND HER GRANDPA PAN PAN.

PAN PAN HAS RECENTLY RETIRED AS BIFENGXIA'S SUPER STUD.

SHUI XIU IS ANOTHER MOM-TO-BE.

SHE'S BEEN CARED FOR SINCE BEING FOUND INJURED

AND STARVING IN THE WILD.

EVEN THOUGH SHE'S MISSING PART OF HER FRONT PAW,

SHE'S STILL ONE OF THE BEST CLIMBERS

AT THE CENTER

AND LIKES TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL,

WHICH CAN MAKE IT TRICKY TO KEEP AN EYE ON HER.

JINI IS THE VETERAN MOM OUT OF THE THREE.

SHE'S FROM THE BEIJING ZOO.

SHE AND HER KEEPER CAME TO BIFENGXIA TO TAKE ADVANTAGE

OF THE CENTER'S EXPERT MATERNITY CARE.

JINI HAS A REAL LAID-BACK PERSONALITY

AND DOESN'T LIKE TO RUSH THINGS.

SEVEN YEARS AGO, SHE ENTERED THE RECORD BOOKS

AS THE OLDEST FIRST-TIME MOTHER

WHEN SHE WAITED UNTIL THE ADVANCED AGE OF 13

TO PRODUCE HER FIRST DAUGHTER, QING QING.

ONE MONTH AGO, QING QING MADE JINI A GRANDMA.

AT 20 YEARS OLD,

JINI'S CLOSE TO THE MAXIMUM AGE FOR BEARING ANOTHER CUB.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THIS LATE STARTER ISN'T TRYING.

FOUR MONTHS AFTER MATING, SHE'S LOST INTEREST IN FOOD

AND IS LOUNGING AROUND EVEN MORE THAN USUAL.

THESE ARE BOTH CLASSIC SIGNS

THAT THIS LAID-BACK GRANDMA IS EXPECTING.

EVEN WITH THE ENTIRE CENTER'S EXPERTISE,

PANDA PREGNANCIES ARE SO UNPREDICTABLE

THAT NO ONE'S BETTING

ON WHO'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST TO DELIVER...

...SHUI XIU...

JINI...

OR SULIN.

THESE MOMS-TO-BE MAY HAVE LOST THEIR APPETITE,

BUT EVERYONE ELSE EXPECTS BREAKFAST AS USUAL.

ALL HANDS ARE ON DECK FOR FOOD PREP.

MEALTIME'S IN FULL SWING.

BAMBOO, CARROTS, AND MORE BAMBOO.

OVER AT THE MATERNITY WARD,

THE USUALLY SOCIABLE SULIN

HAS RETREATED TO A CORNER OF HER COMPOUND.

THE BIRTHING TEAM

THINKS THIS BEHAVIOR MEANS SHE'S IN LABOR.

SHE'S GIVEN BIRTH BEFORE,

BUT STAFF HAD TO INTERVENE AFTER HER FIRST BIRTH

WHEN SULIN KEPT DROPPING THE HELPLESS INFANT.

SO, THIS TIME,

THE BIRTHING TEAM IS WATCHING HER CLOSELY.

AS WITH MANY THINGS AROUND PANDA PREGNANCY,

THE LENGTH OF LABOR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT.

IT COULD BE AS SHORT AS TWO HOURS.

SO FAR, SULIN HAS BEEN IN LABOR FOR SIX.

SHE'S RESTLESS AND LOOKS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

IF THIS GOES ON MUCH LONGER,

IT COULD BE A SIGN

THAT SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG.

Black: AT BIFENGXIA'S PANDA BREEDING CENTER,

SULIN HAS BEEN IN LABOR FOR NEARLY EIGHT HOURS.

SHE MAY BE CLEARING THE GROUND TO PREPARE FOR BIRTH.

[ CUB SQUEAKING ]

BUT THEN IT'S ALL OVER IN A FEW SECONDS!

THE BLIND AND HELPLESS CUB

WEIGHS ALMOST 1,000 TIMES LESS THAN ITS PROTECTIVE MOM.

PANDAS JUST HAVE TO HOLD THEIR BABIES TIGHT,

BUT NOT TOO TIGHT,

AND THIS TIME, SULIN IS GETTING IT JUST RIGHT.

SULIN'S KEEPER IS ANXIOUS TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT THE NEW ARRIVAL.

MANY NEWBORNS DON'T SURVIVE THE FIRST FEW DAYS,

AND THE TEAM MUST ACT QUICKLY IF THE CUB SEEMS DISTRESSED.

THEY NOTICE SOMETHING ABNORMAL WITH THE NEWBORN

AND WANT TO GET A CLOSER LOOK.

THEY DECIDE TO TAKE THE BABY.

THEY ALERT THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER,

AND THE KEEPERS PREPARE TO SEPARATE SULIN

FROM HER NEWBORN CUB.

THE TRUST BETWEEN KEEPER AND PANDA

IS ABOUT TO BE PUT TO THE ULTIMATE TEST.

IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES SINCE SULIN DELIVERED HER BABY,

AND IF IT'S INJURED, IT'LL NEED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

THE TEAM QUICKLY FIGURES OUT THE BEST EXIT PLAN,

BUT THERE'S NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW SULIN WILL REACT

TO HAVING HER NEW BABY SNATCHED AWAY.

HER KEEPER COULD BE FACING 200 POUNDS OF FURIOUS MOM.

AS HE EDGES INTO POSITION,

THE CLOSE BOND BETWEEN PANDA AND KEEPER

IS CLEAR AS SULIN STAYS CALM.

A MOMENT LATER, HE'S GOT THE BABY.

[ CUB SQUEAKING ]

IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE NEWBORN IS SECURELY SWADDLED.

BUT THE TEAM MUST ACT FAST.

THE CUB NEEDS TO FEEL WARM AND PROTECTED,

OR IT WILL GET DISTRESSED.

THE BABY NEEDS TO GET BACK TO SULIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

UNTIL THE NEWBORN HAS A THOROUGH MEDICAL EXAMINATION,

NO ONE KNOWS HOW SOON OR EVEN IF MOTHER AND CUB CAN BE REUNITED.

PANDAS COME INTO THE WORLD BLIND, BALD,

AND COMPLETELY HELPLESS.

THEIR WORLD BEGINS AND ENDS WITH MOM

FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF LIFE.

AT JUST OVER SIX OUNCES,

THIS CUB'S A HEAVYWEIGHT IN PANDA TERMS.

MOST NEWBORNS WEIGH BETWEEN THREE TO FIVE OUNCES.

AFTER BEING THOROUGHLY CHECKED OUT,

THE EXAM REVEALS THAT IT'S JUST A LITTLE BRUISING.

BEFORE THE CUB GOES BACK TO MOM,

ITS UMBILICAL CORD GETS A TRIM.

IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL THE SEX OF THE CUB.

THOSE ORGANS WON'T DEVELOP FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO WEEKS.

BEEN A VERY LONG DAY FOR SULIN AND HER KEEPERS.

[ CUB SQUEAKING ]

NOW SHE AND HER CUB ARE HAPPILY REUNITED.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MATERNITY WARD,

MOTHER-TO-BE SHUI XIU HAS A BIG SURPRISE

IN STORE FOR THE PANDA CENTER.

Black: AT THE BIFENGXIA PANDA BREEDING CENTER,

SHUI XIU HAS GIVEN BIRTH...

...TO TWINS.

WHILE SHE CARES FOR ONE HEALTHY BABY,

NURSERY STAFF LOOKS AFTER THE OTHER.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR PANDAS TO HAVE TWINS,

BUT IN THE WILD,

ONLY THE HEALTHIER NEWBORN WOULD MOST LIKELY SURVIVE.

[ CUB SQUEAKING ]

IT'S VERY, VERY RARE FOR THE FEMALE PANDAS

OR THE PANDA MOTHER TO RAISE THE TWIN CUBS.

SHE CAN ONLY PICK ONE.

Black: TWINS BORN AT THE PANDA CENTER

ARE LUCKY TO BE PART OF AN INGENIOUS INNOVATION

IN CUB REARING.

THEY'RE BEING SWAP-RAISED.

FIVE DAYS OF INTENSIVE CARE IN THE NURSERY

WILL BE FOLLOWED BY FIVE DAYS WITH MOM

SO THAT EACH OF THEM WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO DRINK HER MILK.

LEARNING FOR ALL BABIES STARTS AT BIRTH,

AND GETTING TIME WITH MOM FROM THE BEGINNING ENSURES

EACH CUB HAS THE BEST POSSIBLE START IN LIFE.

SHUI XIU IS ABOUT TO GET TWIN NUMBER TWO...

AND NUMBER ONE WILL BE STARTING ITS NURSERY ROTATION.

THE CUBS WILL BE SWAPPED FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS

UNTIL THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO MOVE AROUND ON THEIR OWN

AND WON'T BE QUITE SO DEMANDING OF MOM.

COME ON, GUYS.

AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

HELPS KEEP THE CENTER RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

Hein: THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE BEEN HERE

TO BIFENGXIA PANDA BASE TO DO THE VOLUNTEER WORK.

IT JUST GIVES YOU A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE PANDAS

AND HOW THEY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIVE DAY TO DAY.

Black: WHEN THE KEEPERS AREN'T WITH THEIR PANDAS,

SOMEONE'S ALWAYS KEEPING AN EYE ON THEM FROM A DISTANCE.

THE STAFF MAKES COPIOUS NOTES

AS THEY TRY TO UNLOCK THE MYSTERIES OF THEIR BEHAVIOR.

LAID-BACK, POSSIBLY PREGNANT,

GRANDMA JINI IS STILL NOT EATING.

SHE SEEMS TO BE IN NO RUSH TO DELIVER,

EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN 140 DAYS SINCE SHE'S MATED.

A PANDA'S GESTATION CAN BE ANYWHERE

FROM 90 TO OVER 160 DAYS.

BUT JINI'S KEEPERS ARE BEGINNING TO WONDER

IF SHE'S REALLY PREGNANT.

IT COULD BE A PSEUDO PREGNANCY,

WHICH MEANS SHE'S EXHIBITING ALL THE SIGNS,

BUT SHE'S NOT ACTUALLY PREGNANT.

LIKE OTHER BEARS,

PANDAS CAN DELAY IMPLANTATION OF THE EMBRYO AFTER MATING.

IT'S AN ADAPTATION THAT, IN THE WILD,

HELPS ENSURE CUBS ARE BORN WHEN THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD,

GIVING THEM THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

EVEN AN ULTRASOUND WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CONFIRM PREGNANCY.

THE FETUS IS TOO TINY.

FOR NOW THE TEAM'S GIVING JINI

THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

AND WILL CONTINUE WATCHING HER 24/7.

SHUI XIU'S TWIN NUMBER ONE IS ON NURSERY ROTATION

WHILE TWIN NUMBER TWO IS BLISSING OUT WITH MOM.

AT 1 MONTH OLD, THE CUBS

NOW HAVE THEIR ICONIC BLACK-AND-WHITE FUR.

IT'LL BE ANOTHER TWO OR THREE WEEKS

BEFORE THEIR EYES FULLY OPEN.

THERE ARE OVER 60 PANDAS AT THE BASE,

AND WITH NEW MOUTHS ARRIVING ALL THE TIME,

KEEPING THEM FED IS A FULL-TIME MISSION.

PANDAS HAVE THE PHYSIOLOGY

OF A MEAT EATER LIKE OTHER BEARS,

BUT AT SOME POINT IN THE DISTANT PAST,

THIS MOST UNUSUAL BEAR BECAME A VIRTUAL VEGETARIAN.

FOR THE LAST 3 MILLION YEARS,

THEIR STAPLE DIET HAS BEEN BAMBOO.

Narhulan: A BIG CREATURE LIKE HIM, HE LIVES ON PLANTS.

THAT'S A LITTLE, LIKE -- FOR ME, IT'S A LITTLE BIT RIDICULOUS.

OTHER BEARS, THEY ALWAYS ALSO LIVE ON MEAT.

I WAS TOLD BY MY KEEPER THAT THEY DON'T DIGEST,

OR THEY DON'T REALLY ABSORB ENOUGH NUTRITION.

I THINK HE SAID IT WAS --

AT MOST, IF IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD,

THEY'D ABSORB ABOUT 17% OF WHAT THEY EAT

IN TERMS OF NUTRITION AND VITAMINS.

Black: BAMBOO MAY BE ONE OF THE WORLD'S WORST DIETS

FOR A BEAR,

BUT NOBODY TOLD SULIN'S GRANDPA PAN PAN.

PAN PAN WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD

WHEN FOUND ABANDONED IN THE WILD IN 1986.

NOW A RESPECTED SENIOR CITIZEN, PAN PAN HAS FATHERED 32 CUBS.

AND SULIN'S NEWEST ADDITION TO THE FAMILY

IS JUST THE LATEST OF HIS MANY GREAT-GRANDKIDS.

LIVING NEXT DOOR TO PAN PAN IS ONE OF HIS GRANDSONS.

9-YEAR-OLD TAI SHAN WAS BORN IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,

AT THE NATIONAL ZOO.

HE WAS THE FIRST CUB TO SURVIVE MORE THAN A FEW DAYS PAST BIRTH.

ALL PANDAS IN ZOOS AROUND THE WORLD

BELONG TO CHINA,

AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENTS USUALLY REQUIRE NEW CUBS

TO BE SENT TO CHINA ONCE THEY REACH 2 YEARS OLD,

THE AGE YOUNG PANDAS

WOULD NORMALLY STRIKE OUT ON THEIR OWN IN THE WILD.

TAI SHAN WAS SO WELL-LOVED THAT THE NATIONAL ZOO

NEGOTIATED TO KEEP HIM AN EXTRA 2 1/2 YEARS

BEFORE FINALLY SENDING HIM TO HIS ANCESTRAL HOME.

THE NEED FOR BAMBOO HAS FOSTERED CLOSE LINKS

WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

EVERY DAY, LOCAL VILLAGERS HARVEST

AND DELIVER TRUCKLOADS OF FRESHLY CUT BAMBOO.

PANDA FANS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE

VOLUNTEER TO HELP THE KEEPERS

SORT AND PREPARE THE ENDLESS BUNDLES OF VEGETATION.

Woman: I COME FROM DENMARK,

AND I'M SAVING UP FOR FOUR YEARS TO COME HERE.

Black: THEIR REWARD IS TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

WITH THEIR PANDA IDOLS.

THEY'RE LIKE SUPER CUTE, YOU KNOW?

THEY EAT BAMBOOS,

AND THEY'RE, LIKE, CHUBBY, I DON'T KNOW.

I REALLY LOVE THEM.

Black: SINCE BAMBOO DOESN'T PROVIDE MUCH NUTRITION,

WILD PANDAS SPEND ALMOST EVERY WAKING MINUTE FORAGING FOR FOOD.

HERBIVORES THAT LIVE ON A SIMILAR DIET

HAVE FOUR STOMACHS OR EXTRA-LONG DIGESTIVE TRACTS

TO HELP BREAK IT DOWN.

PANDAS DON'T HAVE EITHER,

SO THEY SETTLED FOR EATING LOTS OF IT

AND PASSING IT THROUGH QUICKLY SO THEY HAVE ROOM TO EAT MORE.

WHICH IS WHERE THE VOLUNTEERS COME IN AGAIN.

GO UP THE STAIR AND CHECK PANDA POOP.

TAKE IT.

OBVIOUSLY, ALL AROUND THE ENCLOSURE,

YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LOT OF PANDA POO.

IT'S LITERALLY SHREDDED BAMBOO.

Black: A SINGLE PANDA CAN PRODUCE UP TO 48 POUNDS OF WASTE

IN JUST 24 HOURS.

AND BIFENGXIA IS HOME TO MORE THAN 60 PANDAS.

YOU DO THE MATH.

THAT'S A LOT OF POOP.

IF YOU THINK IT'S VERY HARD, YOU CAN USE YOUR HAND.

NO.

FOR PANDA SCIENTISTS, PANDA POOP IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST WASTE.

IT'S CHOCKFUL OF INFORMATION ABOUT A PANDA'S HEALTH

AND STATE OF MIND.

NOT SO FAST THROWING AWAY THAT POOP.

YOU PRETTY MUCH SEE FROM THEIR POO

WHAT THEY'VE EATEN, SO APPLE.

THEY'VE HAD SOME APPLE, AND THIS LITERALLY HAS COME OUT

AFTER EATING THE APPLE.

Black: THE CENTER IS PROUD OF THE FINE DINING

IT PROVIDES FOR ITS FURRY CLIENTS.

THE MENU INCLUDES THIS SPECIAL-RECIPE PANDA BREAD,

FRESHLY BAKED EVERY DAY BY A MASTER PANDA CHEF.

THE BREAD IS MADE FROM STEAMED CORN

AND HAS A SWEET AROMA.

50 TO 60 LOAVES ARE MADE EVERY DAY.

IT DOESN'T TASTE MUCH.

Black: UNDERSTANDING THE DIETARY NEEDS OF THIS PICKY BEAR

HAS PLAYED A HUGE PART IN IMPROVING THE HEALTH

AND THE BREEDING CAPACITY OF CAPTIVE PANDAS.

STILL GOING STRONG AT NEARLY 30 YEARS OLD,

GRANDPA PAN PAN IS TESTIMONY TO THE SUCCESS

OF THE PANDA CENTER'S DIET.

A WILD PANDA WOULD BE LUCKY TO MAKE IT TO 20.

AS FOREST AREAS DIMINISH IN CHINA,

STARVATION, ILLNESS, AND INJURY

ARE A CONSTANT THREAT FOR WILD POPULATIONS.

Narhulan: A PANDA HAVE TO LIVE IN A REALLY BIG AREA

TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HAS ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT.

THEY CANNOT LIVE ANY LONGER

IN THEIR OWN HABITAT MOSTLY DUE TO HUMAN ACTIVITIES.

Black: THE GIANT PANDA IS RUNNING OUT OF PLACES TO LIVE,

AND THE SHRINKING GENE POOL

COULD BE THE BIGGEST THREAT OF ALL...

...MAKING THE WORK AT THE PANDA BREEDING CENTER

ESSENTIAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE SPECIES.

Black: IT'S BEEN 11 WEEKS

SINCE SHUI XIU HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO HER TWINS.

HER CUBS ARE THRIVING, THANKS TO THE SWAP-RAISING PROTOCOL.

THE TWINS ARE A BOY AND A GIRL,

AND LITTLE QIQI IS ON THE LAST DAY

OF HIS FIVE-DAY NURSERY ROTATION.

PANDA CUBS THIS AGE CAN'T EVEN PEE AND POOP ON THEIR OWN.

THE BABY'S EYES ARE NOW FULLY OPEN.

BUT IT'LL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER COUPLE WEEKS

BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO WALK MORE THAN A FEW STEPS.

IT'S NOW FEEDING TIME.

GETTING THE MILK FORMULA EXACTLY RIGHT IS VITAL.

YEARS OF RESEARCH AND PATIENCE

HAVE GONE INTO PERFECTING THE FORMULA.

MANY CUBS IN THE PAST DIDN'T MAKE IT

THROUGH THOSE VULNERABLE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF LIFE,

RESULTING IN HEARTBREAKING DISAPPOINTMENT

FOR THE CENTER'S TEAM.

[ SQUEAKS ]

AT NEARLY 3 MONTHS, THE CUB'S BABY TEETH

ARE JUST STARTING TO COME THROUGH.

QIQI DOESN'T LIKE HIS MOUTH WIPED.

IT WON'T GET ITS PERMANENT BAMBOO-CRUNCHING TEETH

UNTIL IT'S 1 YEAR OLD.

TIME FOR LITTLE QIQI TO HEAD BACK TO MOM.

BUT FIRST, HE GETS A QUICK RUBDOWN WITH MOM'S POOP.

THE SCENT WILL HELP SHUI XIU IDENTIFY HIM AS HER CUB.

IT'LL BE ANOTHER TWO MONTHS BEFORE MOM WILL BE FACED

WITH TAKING CARE OF BOTH CUBS.

PANDAS HAVE A VERY HIGHLY DEVELOPED SENSE OF SMELL,

AND BOTH MALES AND FEMALES CONSTANTLY MARK THEIR TERRITORY.

PANDAS USE SCENT MARKING FOR ESSENTIAL SOCIAL NETWORKING.

DAI LI HAS MASTERED THE THREE-LEGGED HANDSTAND,

ALLOWING HIM TO SPRAY HIS SCENT IN STYLE.

THE HIGHER UP HE CAN SPRAY,

THE MORE IMPRESSIVE THE MESSAGE.

13 YEARS AGO, HE STUMBLED OUT OF THE FOREST COVERED IN BLOOD.

HE WAS SO BADLY INJURED THAT SAVING HIS LIFE

MEANT HE BECAME THE FIRST PANDA AMPUTEE.

LU LU IS THE BREEDING CENTER'S STAR STUD

AND TAKES HIS SOCIAL SCENTING VERY SERIOUSLY.

THEY ARE SOLITARY ANIMALS.

THEY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER WITH --

BY SCENTS OR THE CHEMICAL CUES LEFT BY EACH OTHER.

THE REASON WHY LU LU CAME TO THIS PLACE

IS THE DESTRUCTION OF HIS OWN HABITAT.

HE'S LIKE 15 YEARS OLD RIGHT NOW.

Black: LU LU HAS ALREADY FATHERED OVER 20 CUBS,

BRINGING A VITAL INPUT OF NEW DNA

TO THE CAPTIVE GENE POOL.

Narhulan: ONE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAPTURED --

A RAISED PANDA AND THE WILD PANDA

IS THEIR SEXUAL ABILITY.

THOSE WILD ONE ALWAYS ACT MUCH BETTER.

LU LU WAS IN THE WILD UNTIL HE WAS AN ADULT,

SO JUST LIKE HUMAN,

IF YOU'RE GROWING UP IN A VERY TOUGH PLACE,

THEN YOU'RE GONNA BE MUCH STRONGER THAN THE OTHERS.

Black: LU LU USES A SCENT GLAND UNDER HIS TAIL

TO LEAVE A WARNING FOR RIVALS...

AND AN INVITATION TO POTENTIAL MATES.

WITH LU LU'S HELP,

NARHULAN IS RESEARCHING JUST HOW MUCH INFORMATION

IS CARRIED IN A PANDA'S EXCRETIONS.

I'LL BE WAITING IN THIS CAGE

UNTIL THE PANDA IS URINATING,

SO -- OH, HERE HE IS.

Black: IT DOESN'T TAKE LU LU LONG TO PROVIDE A SAMPLE.

YEAH, THAT'S ENOUGH.

40 MILLIMETERS.

WHAT I NEED IS JUST THE ONLY SMELL

OF HIS URINE IN THIS TUBE.

Black: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ENCLOSURE,

ANOTHER MALE PANDA HAS NO IDEA

THAT HE'S ABOUT TO PLAY A STARRING ROLE

IN AN IMPORTANT SCENT EXPERIMENT.

Black: UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF PANDA SCENT-MESSAGING BEHAVIOR

IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CARE OF CAPTIVE-BRED INDIVIDUALS.

BUT IT COULD ALSO TRANSFORM OUR UNDERSTANDING

OF HOW THEY SURVIVE IN THE WILD.

SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THAT PANDAS USE SCENT MESSAGES

FOR MUCH MORE THAN JUST MARKING TERRITORY.

Narhulan: A SCENT STATION IS KIND OF A SPOT

THAT PANDA LEFT THEIR SCENT ON TREE BARK OR THE WALL

OR THE STONE OR SOMETHING IN THE WILD.

MAYBE THEIR SEX OR BODY SIZE,

SO THEY WILL KNOW, OH, THIS IS A NICE ONE

TO MATE WITH OR NOT.

Black: NARHULAN WANTS TO TEST THE THEORY

THAT THEY USE SCENT STATIONS

TO POST STATUS UPDATES REVEALING LOTS OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.

KIND OF LIKE FACEBOOK FOR PANDAS.

AT 15, WU GANG IS THE SAME AGE AS LU LU THE LOVER BOY.

BUT HE'S A SMALLER AND QUIETER BEAR.

WU GANG WAS FOUND ABANDONED AS A CUB

AND WAS RAISED AT BIFENGXIA.

NARHULAN THINKS WU GANG

IS PERFECT TO TEST OUT THE THEORY

THAT PANDAS USE SCENT IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

Narhulan: WHAT I'M GOING TO DO RIGHT NOW

IS JUST SPRAY SOME SAMPLE OF LU LU'S URINE ON THE GROUND

TO SEE HOW WU GANG REACTS ON IT.

WE CAN WATCH FROM THE OUTSIDE.

YEAH, HE'S SMELLING.

YOU SEE, HE'S SMELLING.

IT WORKS.

AFTER SMELLING, HE JUST BECOME REALLY QUIET.

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN IT.

LOOK AT HIM, HE WAS WALKING AROUND JUST MOMENTS AGO.

RIGHT NOW, HE IS JUST SITTING OVER THERE.

Black: NARHULAN HAS SEEN ENOUGH AND FEELS SORRY FOR WU GANG.

OKAY, I GUESS HE'S SUFFERING SOMETHING.

I HAVE TO RELIEVE HIM OUTSIDE THE PEN.

LU LU'S SCENT SEEMS TO ACT AS A WARNING TO OTHER MALES.

Narhulan: YEAH, HE CANNOT WAIT TO GET OUTSIDE.

Black: THESE COMPLEX CHEMICAL SIGNALS

ARE THOUGHT TO HELP WILD PANDAS AVOID DANGEROUS CONFRONTATIONS.

Narhulan: HE KNOWS HE HAS A VERY STRONG ENEMY.

"I CANNOT HANDLE THIS. I HAVE TO GO."

IT'S KIND OF A COMPETITION.

Black: UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE MESSAGES

CAN PREVENT UNNECESSARY STRESS FOR PANDAS IN CAPTIVITY,

MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE TO THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

BACK AT THE BIFENGXIA BREEDING PANDA BASE,

SULIN IS PROVING TO BE AN ATTENTIVE AND NURTURING MOM.

HER BABY IS FIT AND HEALTHY

WITH NO LASTING EFFECTS FROM HIS BRUISING AT BIRTH.

SULIN'S CUB IS NOW 4 MONTHS OLD,

AND DNA TESTS HAVE REVEALED HE'S A BOY.

IT'S NOT EASY DETERMINING THE SEX OF PANDAS.

ZOO ATLANTA IN GEORGIA

SENT 4-YEAR-OLD NALAN TO CHINA

TO JOIN THE BREEDING PROGRAM,

WHERE HE WAS DISCOVERED TO ACTUALLY BE A SHE.

DNA TESTING NOW TAKES THE GUESSWORK

OUT OF ASSIGNING GENDER.

SULIN'S CUB IS STILL A LITTLE CLUMSY,

BUT HE'S STARTING TO GET CURIOUS ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND HIM.

AND LIKE MOST BABIES, HE LIKES TO CHEW ON THINGS.

HE'S STILL VIRTUALLY HELPLESS, BUT MOM IS ALWAYS CLOSE BY.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

AT THE MATERNITY WARD,

LAID-BACK GRANDMA JINI'S BEEN KICKED OUT

AFTER REGAINING HER APPETITE.

HER PREGNANCY TURNED OUT TO BE A FALSE ALARM,

AND SHE'S WAITING FOR A RIDE BACK TO BEIJING ZOO.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT JINI WAS PREGNANT

AND HAD A MISCARRIAGE.

THE OLDEST KNOWN PANDA TO GIVE BIRTH

WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLDER THAN JINI,

SO AT 20, THIS IS PROBABLY HER LAST CHANCE

FOR HAVING A CUB.

BUT HER DAUGHTER, QING QING,

IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF RAISING HER GRANDKID.

LIKE ANY FIRST-TIME MOM, SHE'S HAD TO LEARN

HOW TO GENTLY PICK UP AND CARE FOR HER BABY.

IT WAS A STEEP LEARNING CURVE,

BUT SHE'S GOT THE HANG OF IT NOW.

LIKE MANY PARENTS,

SHE'S PROTECTIVE AS WELL AS PLAYFUL

WITH HER LITTLE ONE.

THE BREEDING CENTER IS ALSO HOME TO 16-YEAR-OLD XI XI

AND HER TWINS.

SHE'S A VERY ATTENTIVE MOM,

BUT HER 1 1/2-YEAR-OLD BOISTEROUS BOYS

DEMAND CONSTANT ATTENTION.

THIS IS HAO HU.

AND THIS IS HAO BAO.

THEY'RE FUN-LOVING BROTHERS,

BUT THERE'S A TWIST TO THEIR STORY.

HAO HU ISN'T XI XI'S NATURAL CUB.

XI XI IS ONE OF THE OLDEST

AND MOST EXPERIENCED MOMS AT THE CENTER.

AND IT'S THE REASON WHY SHE WAS CHOSEN

TO BE HAO HU'S FOSTER MOTHER

WHEN HIS OWN MOM COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF HIM.

HAO HU WAS BORN A TWIN,

BUT HIS BIRTH MOTHER IS IN THE WOLONG REWILDING PROGRAM.

WHEN HAO HU'S MOM HAD TWINS,

HIS SIBLING STAYED WITH MOM WHILE HE WAS RESCUED

AND RUSHED TO THE BREEDING CENTER AT BIFENGXIA.

XI XI GAVE BIRTH FOUR DAYS LATER,

AND WHEN HER OWN CUB WAS TEMPORARILY SWAPPED OUT,

SHE IMMEDIATELY ACCEPTED HAO HU IN HIS PLACE.

THE TWO BOYS WERE SWAP-RAISED JUST LIKE NATURAL TWINS,

ALTERNATELY SPENDING FIVE DAYS WITH MOM,

FOLLOWED BY FIVE DAYS WITH THEIR KEEPERS...

UNTIL XI XI WAS READY TO HANDLE BOTH BOYS TOGETHER.

A YEAR AND A HALF LATER,

NO ONE WOULD KNOW THERE WAS ANYTHING DIFFERENT

ABOUT THIS FAMILY.

RAMBUNCTIOUS HAO HU

IS CONSTANTLY GETTING IN MOM'S WAY...

...WHILE HAO BAO IS SHOWING OFF HIS TREE-CLIMBING SKILLS...

WITHOUT A SAFETY NET.

CUBS LIKE TO CLIMB, AND THERE'S AN IMPORTANT REASON WHY THEY DO.

IN THE WILD, THE HIGHER THEY GET,

THE SAFER THEY ARE.

IT LOOKS DANGEROUS, BUT THE THINNER THE BRANCH,

THE HARDER IT IS FOR A PREDATOR LIKE A LEOPARD TO FOLLOW.

IN THE WILD, STAYING OUT OF THE REACH OF PREDATORS

WOULD BE THE CUB'S ONLY DEFENSE WHILE MOM IS FORAGING FOR FOOD.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS QUITE AS EASY AS IT LOOKS.

BOTH BOYS ARE EATING SOLIDS NOW, BUT THEY'RE NOT FULLY WEANED.

XI XI IS STILL NURSING THEM,

AND THEY'RE ALSO RECEIVING FORMULA

FROM THEIR KEEPERS.

THIS VOLUNTEER DOESN'T MIND CLEANING UP AFTER THE TWINS,

AS LONG AS SHE GETS TO WATCH THE CUBS GET THEIR DAILY TREATS.

HE DOES IT TWICE A DAY,

AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH DEFINITELY THE HIGHLIGHT.

Black: THE TWO BROTHERS DEFINITELY D

HAO BAO IS A BIT LESS ACTIVE AND NOT AS CUNNING AS HAO HU...

...WHO IS SMARTER AND MORE THE TROUBLEMAKER.

BUT THEY'RE EQUALLY CUTE AND ADORABLE.

AND THEY'LL SOMETIMES JUMP ON THEIR KEEPER

WHEN HE GOES TO GIVE THEM THEIR BOTTLES OF FORMULA.

THEY'RE REALLY CUTE ANIMALS. IT MAKES THE DAY GO REALLY WELL.

THE HARD WORK, TOTALLY WORTH IT.

Black: SOON, THEY'LL BE JOINING THE OTHER FULL-TIME PANDA R

FOR THEIR DAILY FORAGING,

CLIMBING, WRESTLING, AND SLEEPING.

EVERY NEW PANDA CUB RAISED HERE

IS A STEP CLOSER TO THE CENTER'S GOAL

OF REBUILDING A WILD POPULATION.

EVERY CUB IS CAREFULLY MONITORED

TO GAUGE ITS PLACE IN THE MISSION.

JUST LIKE PEOPLE, SOME PANDAS ARE MORE AMBITIOUS THAN OTHERS.

LITTLE SHIN YUAN MAY LOOK UNSURE OF HERSELF,

BUT AT ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD, SHE'S A PRECOCIOUS LITTLE TREE CLIMBER

AND DEFINITELY NOT BOTHERED BY HEIGHTS.

SHIN YUAN WILL BE WATCHED AS SHE GROWS TO SEE

IF SHE'S READY FOR THE NEXT STAGE

OF THE REWILDING PROGRAM.

ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM,

2-YEAR-OLD GONG GONG THINKS HE'S A ROCK STAR

AND WANTS TO BE CATERED TO.

HE LOUNGES AROUND, WAITING FOR HIS FOOD TO BE DELIVERED.

IF HE HAD TO GET HIS OWN MEALS, HE'D PROBABLY STARVE.

THESE 2-YEAR-OLDS HAVE BEEN EATING SOLIDS FOR 18 MONTHS,

BUT A MILK TREAT GIVES THEM A DAILY DOSE OF EXTRA VITAMINS.

THEIR MOTHERS MAY BE FREE FROM THESE TODDLERS

AND THEIR TERRIBLE TWOS,

BUT THEIR KEEPERS NEED TO MAKE SURE STANDARDS DON'T SLIP.

NOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR MOMS TO ANNOY,

THE KEEPERS ARE FAIR GAME.

THESE KIDS ARE LIKE AMBASSADORS

FOR THE GREAT BREEDING SUCCESS STORY HERE.

THE CROWDS OF FANS ARE DEFINITELY ENTERTAINED BY THEM.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH, AND THERE ARE BIG CHANGES

FOR SULIN AND HER CUB.

HE GETS MORE ALONE TIME, AND AT 5 MONTHS,

HER BABY'S CONFIDENT ENOUGH

TO MAKE HIS FIRST ATTEMPTS TO CLIMBING.

IN THE WILD, STAYING OUT OF THE REACH OF PREDATORS

WOULD BE THE CUB'S ONLY DEFENSE

WHILE MOM IS OFF FORAGING FOR FOOD.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS QUITE AS EASY AS IT LOOKS.

A MONTH LATER, XI XI'S BOISTEROUS BOYS

HAVE PACKED OFF TO KINDERGARTEN.

XI XI IS NO LONGER BEING HARASSED BY HER TWINS,

BUT AS SPRING ARRIVES, THE KEEPERS ARE NOTICING

THAT SHE'S VOCALIZING MORE THAN USUAL.

SHE'S RESTLESS...

HAS LOST INTEREST IN FOOD...

ALL CLASSIC SIGNS THAT SHE'S GOING INTO HEAT.

IN THE NON-BREEDING SEASON, FEMALES ARE REALLY, REALLY CALM,

BUT IN THE MATING SEASON, THEY WILL CHANGE

INTO VERY ACTIVE, AGGRESSIVE FEMALES --

CHIRPING, BARKING,

OR, LIKE, WALKING AROUND.

Black: UNDERSTANDING THE MYSTERIES OF PANDA COURTSHIP

HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY AT THE CENTER.

FOR DECADES, MALE PANDAS IN CAPTIVITY

JUST COULDN'T SEEM TO SUMMON ANY INTEREST

WHEN IT CAME TO MAKING BABIES.

WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT THE REASON FOR THIS BEHAVIOR.

Black: AND SINCE A FEMALE PANDA'S ONLY SEXUALLY RECEPTIVE

FOR BETWEEN ONE AND THREE DAYS A YEAR,

THAT'S A VERY SMALL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY.

SUDDENLY, I GOT IDEA.

HOW ABOUT WE ADD A COMPETITOR FOR THIS MALE?

THE NORMAL BEHAVIOR OF THE GIANT PANDAS

IS MANY, MANY FEMALES

OR THE MALES GET TOGETHER DURING THE MATING SEASON.

Black: MOVING SUPER STUD CASANOVA LU LU

AND GENTLE WU GANG TO EITHER SIDE OF XI XI

WILL BRING OUT THE COMPETITIVE INSTINCT IN THE GUYS.

COME ON, GUYS, IT'S BASIC COURTSHIP PSYCHOLOGY.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

Liu: AND THEN THEY CAN BECOME VERY ACTIVE IN, YOU KNOW,

MATING OR SHOW SOME INTEREST IN THE FEMALE.

Black: LU LU CAN DETECT THE PRESENCE OF WU GANG

AND KNOWING ANOTHER MALE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF XI XI

HELPS KICKS HIS SEX DRIVE INTO GEAR.

[ PANDAS CHIRPING ]

WHEN XI XI'S ABOUT TO ENTER PEAK ESTRUS,

LU LU WILL STAY BY HER SIDE ALL DAY AND NIGHT.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, WU GANG TAKES A MORE LAID-BACK APPROACH.

BUT LU LU NEVER STOPS TRYING TO ATTRACT XI XI'S ATTENTION.

[ PANDAS CHIRPING ]

AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.

BUT WHEN THINGS GET TOO HOT AND HEAVY,

LU LU HAS HIS OWN WAY OF COOLING THINGS DOWN.

THEY WILL RECORD WHICH OF THE MALES DOES THE FEMALE LOVE --

LOVE MORE OR LOVE BETTER,

AND OF COURSE, ONE OF THE MALES

WILL BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO MATE WITH HER.

THE KEEPERS HAVE TO GET THE MOMENT EXACTLY RIGHT.

[ CONVERSING IN MANDARIN ]

IF THE PANDAS ARE PUT TOGETHER TOO SOON,

THEY COULD END UP FIGHTING.

Black: DURING THE MATING SEASON,

THE KEEPERS MUST BE READY TO ACT AT ANY MOMENT

WHEN FERTILE XI XI SELECTS HER SUITOR.

SOMETIMES, YOU WILL SEE THEM, LIKE, RAISE UP THEIR TAILS

TO THE MALE NEXT TO HER.

THAT'S A SIGN OF, "I'M READY."

Black: AFTER HARDLY EATING FOR TWO DAYS,

XI XI MAKES IT CLEAR THAT LU LU IS THE GUY FOR HER.

[ PANDAS SQUEALING ]

THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE WU GANG'S LUCKY DAY.

LU LU IS A KIND OF A SUPERSTAR IN THIS PANDA BASE.

HE GOT SO MANY BABIES.

Black: FEMALE PANDAS TAKE THE LEAD DURING MATING,

SO LETTING XI XI CHOOSE HER PARTNER MAKES IT MORE LIKELY

THAT SHE WILL BE MORE RECEPTIVE TO LU LU'S LOVING.

AFTER WAITING A YEAR FOR THIS MOMENT,

EVERYTHING'S OVER IN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES.

TYPICAL.

AND THE KEEPERS HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY TO SEPARATE THE PANDAS.

NO BASKING GOING ON HERE.

THE STAFF'S READY WITH TREATS ON STICKS

IN CASE LU LU DOESN'T GET THE HINT TO CLEAR OUT.

XI XI!

[ XI XI CHIRPS ]

AS THE DAY DRAWS TO A CLOSE,

XI XI'S STILL IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE.

AND THIS TIME, IT'S WU GANG

WHO'S GETTING HER ALL HOT AND BOTHERED.

IN THE WILD, BOTH MALES AND FEMALES

MATE WITH DIFFERENT PARTNERS.

EACH YEAR, FEMALES ARE ONLY FERTILE

BETWEEN ONE AND THREE DAYS,

SO IT MAKES SENSE TO MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES

FOR SUCCESSFUL BREEDING.

WU GANG SEEMS LESS CONFIDENT THAN LU LU

AND APPARENTLY HASN'T READ THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL.

LOOKS LIKE HE'S GIVING HER A MASSAGE MORE THAN MATING.

[ PANDAS SQUEALING ]

BUT HE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE,

AND EVENTUALLY, HE FINDS HIS MOJO.

WHEN XI XI HAS HAD ENOUGH,

WU GANG TAKES A LITTLE MORE PERSUADING

THAT IT'S ALL OVER.

ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS FEROCIOUS,

THIS FIGHTING IS A NATURAL PART OF THE PROCESS

AND RARELY RESULTS IN SERIOUS INJURY.

XI XI SEEMS TO HAVE PLENTY OF ENERGY LEFT,

BUT THE KEEPERS DECIDE IT'S LIGHTS OUT FOR TONIGHT.

WITH TWO SUCCESSFUL MATINGS,

SHE HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF DELIVERING A CUB OR EVEN TWO.

PANDA REPRODUCTION IS STILL A HIT-OR-MISS BUSINESS.

IT'LL BE MONTHS BEFORE THE TEAM

KNOWS WHETHER SHE'S DEFINITELY PREGNANT.

AS FAR AS THIS YEAR'S CUBS ARE CONCERNED,

THEY ARE THRIVING.

SHUI XIU'S TWINS ARE STILL ON THEIR SWAP-RAISING ROTATION

OF FIVE DAYS WITH MOM AND FIVE IN THE NURSERY.

THEY'RE BLISSFULLY UNAWARE

THAT THEIR LITTLE LIVES ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER.

AFTER FIVE MONTHS OF ONLY ENTRUSTING SHUI XIU

WITH ONE CUB AT A TIME,

HER KEEPERS HAVE DECIDED THAT IT'S TIME

TO RISK GIVING HER BOTH CUBS AT ONCE.

HER DAUGHTER, LIU LIU,

IS FINISHING HER FIVE-DAY NURSERY ROTATION.

SHE'S GOT MOST OF HER BABY TEETH NOW,

BUT DRINKING MILK FROM THE BOWL IS STILL A LITTLE TRICKY.

TODAY WILL BE A WHOLE NEW CHAPTER

FOR HER AND HER TWIN, QIQI,

WHEN THEY MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THEIR MOM IS SUDDENLY GOING TO BE FACED

WITH TWO CUBS INSTEAD OF ONE.

NO ONE KNOWS HOW SHUI XIU WILL REACT.

SHE'S BROUGHT INSIDE HER ENCLOSURE

WHILE THE KEEPERS PREPARE TO REUNITE THE CUBS.

SOME MOTHERS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO REJECT ONE TWIN,

EVEN AT THIS LATE STAGE.

THERE'S ALWAYS A DANGER SHE'LL FAVOR ONE OVER THE OTHER.

REGULAR WEIGH-INS WILL ALLOW THE KEEPERS TO MONITOR

WHETHER BOTH CUBS ARE GETTING ENOUGH OF MOM'S MILK

WHILE IN HER CARE.

BABY LIU LIU NEEDS A GOOD RUBDOWN WITH MOM'S POOP

TO HELP HER FIT RIGHT BACK IN WITH THE FAMILY.

BOTH CUBS HAVE BEEN ENJOYING ONLY-CHILD STATUS UP TO NOW.

[ QIQI GROWLS ]

LITTLE QIQI DOESN'T TAKE TOO KINDLY TO THIS INTRUSION.

SHUI XIU IS RELEASED.

THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

Black: SHUI XIU'S TWINS, LIU LIU AND QIQI,

ARE ALREADY DUKING IT OUT...

SHOWING SIGNS OF HEALTHY SIBLING RIVALRY.

BUT IT'S HOW SHE WILL REACT

TO MEETING BOTH CUBS TOGETHER THAT HAS EVERYONE NERVOUS.

LU LU IMMEDIATELY GETS INSPECTED.

BUT THEN SHUI XIU GETS UP AND LEAVES THE DEN.

THESE FIRST MOMENTS ARE CRUCIAL.

SEEING DOUBLE COULD BE MAKING SHUI XIU FEEL OVERWHELMED.

BUT IT TURNS OUT,

SHE'S JUST ANSWERING A CALL OF NATURE.

WHEN SHE RETURNS, LITTLE QIQI GETS MOM'S FULL ATTENTION.

THEY MIGHT HAVE MYSTERIOUSLY DOUBLED,

BUT SHUI XIU CLEARLY KNOWS THESE ARE BOTH HER CUBS.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S GONNA BE ROOM

FOR EVERYONE IN THIS FAMILY.

THE SUCCESS OF SWAP-RAISING

IS A REAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE CENTER.

EVERY TWIN SAVED IS A PANDA

THAT WOULD HAVE ALMOST CERTAINLY DIED IF BORN IN THE WILD.

AND WITH SO FEW LEFT IN THE WORLD,

EVERY PANDA COUNTS.

INCREASING CUB NUMBERS LIKE THIS

REQUIRES CLOSE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE.

AND THAT HAS CONSEQUENCES

FOR THE FUTURE OF THESE KINDERGARTEN CUBS.

CUBS RAISED AT BIFENGXIA ALREADY HAD TOO MUCH CONTACT

WITH PEOPLE TO EVER BE SAFELY RELEASED INTO THE WILD.

200 YEARS AGO, PANDAS USED TO RANGE FREELY

OVER MOUNTAINS LIKE THESE.

BUT AS THE HUMAN POPULATION GROWS,

PEOPLE AND PANDAS ARE INCREASINGLY

IN COMPETITION FOR PLACES TO LIVE.

A LOSS OF HABITAT FORCES THE PANDA

INTO SMALLER AND SMALLER POCKETS OF FOREST.

INBREEDING IS BECOMING A SERIOUS THREAT.

IT'S HARD TO FIND A SUITABLE MATE

WHEN EVERYONE YOU MEET IS RELATED.

CHINA'S WORKING TOWARDS CREATING PROTECTED CORRIDORS

OF WILDERNESS TO LINK EXISTING PANDA HABITATS

SO WILD PANDAS CAN RANGE MORE WIDELY,

AND DIFFERENT GROUPS CAN INTERACT.

FOR NOW, INTRODUCING NEW BLOODLINES

BY RELEASING CAPTIVE-BRED INDIVIDUALS

IS THE WILD PANDA'S BEST HOPE.

THE GOAL IS TO HAVE LESS THAN 10 PANDAS

IN A SPECIFIC AREA TO TRY TO INCREASE

THEIR GENETIC DIVERSITY.

THIS IS THE MISSION OF THE PANDA CENTER'S OTHER BASE

IN THE REMOTE MOUNTAINS OF WOLONG.

HERE, A BOLD EXPERIMENT IS TAKING PLACE.

THE UNIFORM IS A PANDA COSTUME,

AND CLOSED CIRCUIT TV IS USED TO MONITOR CUBS

THAT HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF BEING RELEASED INTO THE WILD.

THERE ARE NO VOLUNTEERS AND NO TOURISTS AT WOLONG.

THIS BASE IS ALL ABOUT KEEPING

IT FOCUSED ON REWILDING THE PANDA.

WE USE A VERY INNOVATIVE WAY TO TREATING THOSE PANDAS.

WE MOVE THE PREGNANT FEMALE FROM BIFENGXIA,

THEN TO PUT THEM IN WOLONG BREEDING CENTER.

THEY WILL GIVE BIRTH IN THE WILD,

A VERY OPEN AREA WITHOUT ANY HUMAN INTERFERENCE.

Black: EACH CUB HERE IS RAISED BY ITS MOTHER

ON ALMOST NINE ACRES OF SEMI-WILD ENCLOSURES.

THEY ARE WATCHED TO SEE

IF THEY ARE SUITABLE FOR THE REWILDING PROGRAM.

MAKING SURE THAT THEY DON'T GET USED TO HUMANS

IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

UNLIKE THE CUBS, HOWEVER, THE ADULT MOMS LIKE NA NA

GREW UP AROUND PEOPLE BEFORE BEING MOVED TO WOLONG,

SO THEY DO KNOW WHO'S INSIDE THE PANDA COSTUME.

HER KEEPER TOOK CARE OF HER WHEN SHE WAS DELIVERING HER BABY.

LIKE MOST OF THE OTHER MOMS HERE,

NA NA WAS BORN IN CAPTIVITY,

BUT SHE WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE OF HER NATURAL INSTINCTS.

SHE'S AN EXPERT CLIMBER AND FORAGER,

AND THE PROGRAM RELIES ON HER TEACHING THESE SKILLS

TO HER CUB.

A LOT'S RIDING ON THOSE FURRY SHOULDERS OF HERS.

AND THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES

EVERY RELEASE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

BACK IN 2006, THE FIRST CAPTIVE PANDA

THAT WAS RELEASED GOT INTO A FIGHT

AND DIED WITHIN A YEAR.

IT WAS A HEARTBREAKING RESULT FOR EVERYONE.

BUT JUST AS THE REWILDING PROGRAM

WAS GETTING BACK ON TRACK,

THERE WAS ANOTHER DEVASTATING SETBACK...

...ONE THAT NOBODY COULD HAVE FORESEEN.

Black: MAY 12, 2008, STARTED OUT AS A TYPICAL SPRING DAY.

BUT JUST AFTER 2:30 P.M...

...ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE EARTHQUAKES EVER RECORDED

HIT SICHUAN, CHINA.

ITS EPICENTER WAS JUST SEVEN MILES

FROM THE WOLONG PANDA BASE.

THOUSANDS OF TONS OF ROCKS FELL DOWN FROM THE HILLTOP.

THERE ARE TWO PANDAS LIVING IN THE AREA.

THE WOLONG TEAM WAS AFRAID THAT THEY MAY HAVE PERISHED.

LUCKILY, THE PANDAS HID IN A SAFE PLACE,

AND THE TEAM FOUND THEM RIGHT UNDER A HUGE, FALLEN ROCK.

FIVE STAFF MEMBERS AND ONE CAPTIVE PANDA

DIED IN THE EARTHQUAKE THAT CLAIMED

OVER 70,000 HUMAN LIVES ACROSS CHINA.

KEEPERS AND LOCAL PEOPLE

RISKED THEIR OWN LIVES TO RESCUE THE PANDAS.

NO ONE KNOWS HOW MANY WILD PANDAS WERE KILLED,

BUT ACRES OF BAMBOO FOREST WERE DESTROYED IN THE CATASTROPHE...

HABITAT THE PANDA COULD NOT AFFORD TO LOSE.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE REWILDING CENTER

AND THE LOCAL VILLAGE THAT SUPPLIES BAMBOO FOR THE PANDAS

BEGAN REBUILDING.

NOW MORE THAN EVER, THIS UNIQUE ANIMAL

NEEDED EVERYONE'S HELP TO SURVIVE.

AT 3 MONTHS OLD, NA NA'S CUB

IS JUST STARTING TO LEARN FROM HER MOM.

SO, IF YOUNG PANDAS HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY

TO LEARN MANY, MANY THINGS FROM THEIR MOTHERS.

SO THAT THEY CAN KNOW

HOW TO EVALUATE THEIR APPEARANCE,

OR THIS IS A YOUNG ONE, OR THAT'S A FEMALE,

OR THAT ONE IS AN ADULT.

SO THAT THEY CAN -- YOU KNOW, TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS

TO AVOID OR FIGHT,

OR, YOU KNOW, SAY HI.

Black: 2-YEAR-OLD SHIN YUAN IS A TEENAGER IN PANDA TERMS.

AND IT'S NO LONGER COOL

TO HANG OUT WITH HER MOM, WAN QIN.

HER PANDA SKILLS HAVE BEEN CLOSELY SCRUTINIZED SINCE BIRTH.

SURVEILLANCE HAS SHOWN SHE HAS NO PROBLEM LOOKING AFTER HERSELF

AND FINDING HER OWN MEALS.

SHIN YUAN LIKES TO BE ALONE

AND AVOIDS CONTACT WITH THE KEEPERS.

HER INDEPENDENCE HAS CONVINCED THE TEAM

THAT SHE'S READY TO START HER BIG ADVENTURE

AS A TRULY WILD PANDA.

THEY JUST HAVE TO CATCH HER FIRST.

THIS'LL BE A LONG, ARDUOUS DAY FOR THE REWILDING TEAM.

SHIN YUAN'S ENCLOSURE

IS THE SIZE OF SEVEN FOOTBALL FIELDS,

AND SHE COULD BE ANYWHERE ON THE STEEP HILLSIDE.

SPOTTING HER THROUGH THE NETWORK OF SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

WILL GIVE THE TEAM A HEAD START.

THEY'LL LOOK FOR HER MOM, WAN QIN, FIRST,

THEN LET HER LEAD THEM TO THE REBELLIOUS TEEN SHIN YUAN.

LOCAL VILLAGERS HELP CARRY THE TRANSPORT CAGE

UP THE MOUNTAINSIDE.

IT'S A DANGEROUS TREK.

THE CAGE IS VERY HEAVY AND HARD TO CARRY.

IT'S MUDDY, AND THE ROCKS ARE SLIPPERY AND UNSTABLE.

AS THEY GET CLOSER TO WHERE SHIN YUAN WAS LAST SPOTTED,

THE TEAM PUTS ON THEIR PANDA SUITS

BEFORE ENTERING THE ENCLOSURE.

SHIN YUAN IS WEARING A RADIO COLLAR,

BUT THE SIGNAL ISN'T VERY CLEAR,

SO SHE MUST NOT BE CLOSE BY.

THE TEAM HEADS FURTHER UP THE HILL.

THE SIGNAL IS STRONGER HERE.

AND THE KEEPERS MOVE INTO THE ENCLOSURE.

SHIN YUAN'S MOM, WAN QIN, HAS SEEN IT ALL BEFORE.

BUT SHIN YUAN IS NOT PLAYING BALL.

SHE'S RETREATED TO HER FAVORITE SPOT --

THE TOP OF A TREE.

AND SHE'S NOT BUDGING.

HER WILD EDUCATION HAS BEEN A LITTLE TOO SUCCESSFUL.

THEY DON'T WANT TO TRANQUILIZE HER.

SHE'D HAVE TO BE KNOCKED OUT AGAIN

FOR HER FINAL MEDICAL EXAM,

AND EVERY INTERVENTION HAS ITS RISKS.

FORTUNATELY, THERE IS A PLAN "B."

THEY'LL TAKE XUE XUE INSTEAD.

JUST 2 WEEKS YOUNGER THAN SHIN YUAN,

2-YEAR-OLD XUE XUE IS ON TRACK FOR RELEASE NEXT MONTH.

SWAPPING THEIR RELEASE DATES

MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO THE PROGRAM.

XUE XUE SEEMS MORE INTERESTED IN THE FOOD THAN SHIN YUAN WAS.

SHE TAKES A FEW TENTATIVE STEPS TOWARD THE CAGE.

SHE'S IN!

STAGE ONE IS COMPLETE.

NOW THE TEAM HAS TO GET HER INTO THE TRANSPORT CAGE

FOR THE TRIP DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

HER REACTION SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH SHE'S BEEN TRAINED FOR THE WILD.

SHE'S NOT USED TO PEOPLE, EVEN THOSE IN PANDA SUITS,

AND DEFINITELY NOT FAMILIAR WITH CAGES.

FINALLY, WITH A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT, SHE'S INSIDE.

SHE'LL GET A FULL PHYSICAL TOMORROW

TO MAKE SURE SHE'S IN GOOD HEALTH.

MANY YEARS OF RESEARCH AND HARD WORK

HAVE GONE INTO PREPARING FOR THIS IMPORTANT RELEASE.

BUT XUE XUE WILL HAVE TO PASS HER MEDICAL EXAM WITH NO ISSUES,

OR THE RELEASE WILL BE CALLED OFF.

Black: SNOW HAS FALLEN UP IN THE MOUNTAINS

AT THE WOLONG REWILDING CENTER.

PANDAS LOVE SNOW.

IT SPARKS THEM TO PLAY AND FROLIC.

FOR AN ANIMAL THAT NORMALLY RIVALS THE SLOTH

FOR THEIR LEISURELY PERSONA, THIS IS A RARE BEHAVIOR.

IN FACT, A PANDA'S METABOLISM IS SO SLOW,

EVEN AT ITS MOST ENERGETIC,

A PANDA IS EXPENDING LESS ENERGY THAN A RESTING HUMAN.

THE PANDA'S THICK COAT OF FUR INSULATES THEM AGAINST THE COLD.

TODAY COULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY

OF THE 2-YEAR-OLD XUE XUE'S YOUNG LIFE.

IN A FEW HOURS,

SHE'LL EITHER BE BACK IN HER COMPOUND

OR SETTING OFF ON THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.

THE LAST EXAM IS VERY IMPORTANT

BECAUSE WE WILL WANT TO KNOW HOW SHE WEIGHS

AND THE BODY SIZE.

SO, THIS IS THE LAST TEST FOR THE RELEASING PANDA.

Black: THE TEAM MOVES QUICKLY TO GET SEDATED XUE XUE

TO THE EXAM ROOM.

ALL THE DATA FROM TODAY WILL HELP MEASURE

HOW WELL SHE'S COPING IN THE WILD.

SHE RECEIVES A MICROCHIP TO MAKE SURE

THAT SHE CAN ALWAYS BE IDENTIFIED...

...AND IS FITTED WITH A NEW RADIO COLLAR

SO THE SCIENTISTS CAN CONTINUE TO TRACK

AND MONITOR HER MOVEMENTS.

THIS'LL PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ON HOW FAR SHE'S TRAVELING.

A FIELD TEAM WILL COLLECT SAMPLES OF HER FECES

FOR ONGOING HEALTH CHECKUPS.

SHE WEIGHS OVER 20 POUNDS HEAVIER THAN THE LAST TWO PANDAS

THAT WERE RELEASED INTO THE WILD.

XUE XUE GETS THE ALL-CLEAR.

THE NEXT MORNING, SHE'S ON HER WAY

TO BECOMING ONLY THE FOURTH CAPTIVE PANDA

TO EVER BE RELEASED INTO THE WILD.

SHE'S GIVEN A FEW SNACKS FOR THE FIVE-HOUR JOURNEY.

THERE'S ONE LAST PIC.

FINAL SAFETY CHECK.

AND THE PRECIOUS CARGO IS ON HER WAY TO THE RELEASE POINT.

BACK AT THE BIFENGXIA BREEDING CENTER,

THE NEW GENERATION OF CUBS

ARE GROWING FAST AND DOING VERY WELL.

MOM SULIN HAS FOUND A GOOD VANTAGE POINT

FOR KEEPING AN EYE ON HER CUB.

AT 6 MONTHS OLD, HE'S ALREADY A HEARTTHROB WITH THE CROWDS.

HE'S STARTING TO EAT BAMBOO AND LOOKING OUT

FOR ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT BE WORTH EATING.

BUT IT'LL STILL BE MONTHS BEFORE HE'S FULLY WEANED.

AND MAMA SHUI XIU'S TWIN CUBS

ARE BOTH HEALTHY AND THRIVING.

LITTLE QIQI'S A REAL MAMA'S BOY

AND STICKS CLOSE TO HER.

WHILE BABY LIU LIU HAS AN INDEPENDENT SPIRIT

AND LOVES EXPLORING HER WORLD.

HANGING OUT WITH HUMANS SINCE BIRTH MEANS BABY LIU LIU

WON'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE RELEASE PROGRAM.

IF SHE SHOWS AN APTITUDE FOR SURVIVAL SKILLS,

THEN SHE MIGHT BE MOVED TO WOLONG,

WHERE HER CUBS COULD HAVE A CHANCE OF A LIFE IN THE WILD.

RIGHT NOW, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

ALL DEPENDS ON ONE SMALL PANDA

FACING THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF HER LIFE.

XUE XUE IS ABOUT TO BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA

OF PROTECTED WILDERNESS 90 MILES AWAY.

THE TWO PANDAS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY REWILDED SO FAR

WERE BOTH RAISED BY MOTHERS WHO HAD COME FROM THE WILD.

TAU TAU WAS RELEASED IN 2012,

AND ZANG XIANG IN 2013.

BUT XUE XUE'S MOM WAS BORN AT THE PANDA BREEDING CENTER,

MAKING HER RELEASE EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT.

IT COULD MEAN THAT MORE CAPTIVE-BRED PANDAS

COULD BE PLACED BACK INTO THE WILD SUCCESSFULLY.

HER RELEASE IS THE CULMINATION

OF YEARS OF RESEARCH, DEDICATION,

AND HOPE BY THE TEAMS AT BOTH BIFENGXIA AND WOLONG.

IT TAKES XUE XUE A FEW MINUTES

TO GET ADJUSTED TO HER NEW SURROUNDINGS,

BUT THEN SHE HEADS TOWARD THE FOREST

TO BEGIN HER NEW LIFE OUT IN THE WILD.

MORE THAN A MONTH LATER, 2-YEAR-OLD SHIN YUAN

DIED OF AN ILLNESS AT WOLONG RESERVE.

THREE DAYS LATER, XUE XUE

ALSO SUCCUMBED TO A DISEASE IN THE WILD.

THE REWILDING METHOD IS STILL SO NEW FOR RESEARCHERS.

ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN SUCCESS,

EVERY RELEASE IS AN EXPERIMENT...

FULL OF RISK AND POSSIBLE FAILURE.

BUT IT'S A RISK THE TEAM IS WILLING TO TAKE

TO ENSURE THE GIANT PANDA WILL SURVIVE INTO THE FUTURE.

THEY'RE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE TRYING

TO SAVE THESE BELOVED BEARS.

EACH ANIMAL ON THE EARTH IS IMPORTANT FOR US --

FOR THE HUMAN BEINGS, FOR OUR HEALTH, EVERYTHING,

SO NOT ONLY FOR THE PANDA, FOR ALL THE ANIMALS,

ALL THE LIVING THINGS HAVE THE RIGHT

TO LIVE ON THE EARTH.