By Wang Wei
China.org.cn staff reporter in Sichuan

As the closest friends or even foster parents of pandas, Panda keepers give the utmost attention to the rare species' good health and survival.

File photo shows one panda keeper is taking care of a panda suffering the Sichuan earthquake. [China.org.cn]

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However, to be a qualified panda keeper is not easy. They should have received a junior college education or above, and most importantly, have a deep love for animals, according to Zhang Hemin, chief of the Wolong Nature Reserve Administration.

On a visit to Bifengxia Base in Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, the reporter interviewed two panda keepers, Deng Tao and Yang Jie respectively, and would like to share their stories with netizens.

Before coming to Bifengxia Base in Ya'an City, Sichuan Province on April 25, Deng Tao spent two years working as a panda keeper in the Wolong Nature Reserve.

Photo taken on April 28, 2009 shows Deng Tao, a panda keeper, is busy cleaning pandas' enclosure at Bifengxia Base in Ya'an City, Sichuan Province. [China.org.cn]

Caring for pandas is hard work – perhaps also a little monotonous. However, it is more an act of love than simply a job or responsibility to Deng Tao.

"Wujun, one of the six pandas flown to Beijing for the anniversary activities of the 60th birthday of New China in October, is my favorite." Deng smiled, "Once I had a dream, in which a rock crushed him during an earthquake. I cried my eyes out until I woke up and luckily found it was just a nightmare."

According to Deng, in order to help the giant pandas recover from last year's earthquake trauma as soon as possible, it's important to "nourish pandas with love." Careful attention is paid to daily details in the raising of these pandas.

One common practice is to communicate with pandas, even if on tiny issues such as breaking biscuits into pieces and feeding them one piece after another, which is the way the pandas love.

"Body language is also important. Panda keepers are encouraged to play with the pandas whenever possible to build an intimate relation with them."

However, recovery from the trauma is not an easy process. "In spite of poor vision, pandas have a good sense of smell and hearing. Since the earthquake, the pandas have become sensitive to unfamiliar or sudden sounds, and often prick up their ears to identify whether something is wrong. If they consider themselves in danger, they will run off quickly and climb up a tree." Deng said, "Yet, we have been making efforts to help them."

On April 28, Deng Tao, together with two other panda keepers, accompanied six young pandas to Beijing Zoo, where the pandas will be one main attraction during China's National Day holidays in October. Deng is supposed to stay there to take care of them for six months.