Recently, a rare incident occurred at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding: a mainland child threw a screw cap into the venue, causing the enclosure to be closed twice for emergency searching, leaving a large number of tourists—who had waited for two hours—unable to see the national treasure, sparking widespread public outrage.
The incident took place at the base’s popular site, "Villa No. 6," home to giant panda celebrities "Hehua" (Huahua) and "Heye". That afternoon, a young child suddenly threw a metal screw cap into the activity enclosure. Since the screw cap is tiny and hard, if a giant panda were to mistake it for food and swallow it, the consequences could be disastrous. After being alerted, the base took the matter very seriously, immediately implementing emergency measures. "Hehua" and "Heye" were sent back ahead of schedule to the indoor area, and the villa was closed for a comprehensive cleaning and search. This sudden measure left hundreds of visitors—who were eagerly anticipating a close encounter with the national treasure—shocked and disappointed.
What disappointed the tourists most was the "twists and turns" during the search. Some on-site visitors reported queueing for nearly two hours in the scorching sun and, just as they were about to enter the exhibition area, were informed the venue was closed. About an hour later, staff claimed to have found the screw cap and reopened the area, and just as visitors thought they would finally see their idols, the venue was closed again within three minutes.
It turned out, after careful verification, that the staff discovered the screw cap they found was not the one thrown by the child. To ensure the quality of the environment and the safety of the pandas, the base had to conduct a second thorough search. A female visitor who had traveled from out of town by car expressed helplessly that she spent hours in line but ultimately didn’t even catch a glimpse of "Huahua’s" back, her travel mood completely ruined.
For behavior that not only severely impacted tourists but also threatened the safety of the national treasures, the local police intervened promptly. Reportedly, the child in question was taken to the police station for investigation the same day. Given the young age of the individual, the police ultimately gave a verbal warning and required both the child and their guardian to write a letter of commitment promising not to reoffend. In fact, the Chengdu base has always emphasized civilized tourism, and in the past, some adult visitors were put on a "lifetime blacklist" for violations. This incident once again serves as a reminder that, when visiting the giant pandas, travelers must keep their children under control and strictly refrain from throwing any objects.
What disappointed the tourists most was the "twists and turns" during the search. Some on-site visitors reported queueing for nearly two hours in the scorching sun and, just as they were about to enter the exhibition area, were informed the venue was closed. About an hour later, staff claimed to have found the screw cap and reopened the area, and just as visitors thought they would finally see their idols, the venue was closed again within three minutes.
It turned out, after careful verification, that the staff discovered the screw cap they found was not the one thrown by the child. To ensure the quality of the environment and the safety of the pandas, the base had to conduct a second thorough search. A female visitor who had traveled from out of town by car expressed helplessly that she spent hours in line but ultimately didn’t even catch a glimpse of "Huahua’s" back, her travel mood completely ruined.
For behavior that not only severely impacted tourists but also threatened the safety of the national treasures, the local police intervened promptly. Reportedly, the child in question was taken to the police station for investigation the same day. Given the young age of the individual, the police ultimately gave a verbal warning and required both the child and their guardian to write a letter of commitment promising not to reoffend. In fact, the Chengdu base has always emphasized civilized tourism, and in the past, some adult visitors were put on a "lifetime blacklist" for violations. This incident once again serves as a reminder that, when visiting the giant pandas, travelers must keep their children under control and strictly refrain from throwing any objects.