« Where have all the Honey Bee's Gone? | Main | Dog, Cat Food Recalled After Pet Deaths »
March 15, 2007
Artificial limb for handicapped panda
(Sue Note: Seems to be a lot in the news about Panda's lately!)
An animal research center in northern China has appealed to the world for help to fashion an artificial leg for a panda that lost a limb in a fight, local media reported on Thursday.
In December, a resident of Dajiangou village in Shaanxi province stumbled upon a group of pandas fighting, the Beijing News said.
One seriously injured panda, a two- or three-year-old female that rescuers named "Niu Niu" (girl), was taken to an animal rescue center and saved, but lost two-thirds of its front left leg.
"Niu Niu's spirits have lifted, the wound has healed and her appetite has basically recovered. But without her left paw, her loss of balance has directly affected her love life," the paper said.
"The rescue center's staff suddenly had a bold idea. If they could give Niu Niu an artificial limb, not only would that solve her walking and foraging for food, it would also enable her to mate."
Staff were appealing to the world's experts for suggestions and hoped to receive a plan for a "meticulously scientific" fake limb as soon as possible, the paper said.
Posted by sue at March 15, 2007 12:13 PM