Hapless Squirrel Inadvertently Startles Sleeping Giant Panda

A hapless little squirrel inadvertently startles a sleeping giant panda named Er Shun at the Toronto Zoo. The surprise was only temporary as Er Shun turned around and went right back to her nap.

Toronto Zoo’s giant panda Er Shun experienced an unexpected visitor while taking a nap. Clearly she wasn’t that startled, as it didn’t take long for her to go back to sleep!

Er Shun and her friend Da Mao arrived at the Toronto Zoo in May 2014 and are currently thriving on all the bamboo they can eat. The hope is that the two will breed and help grow the currently endangered population.

..the pandas will be in Canada for at least 10 years (a minimum of five years at the Toronto Zoo and five years at the Calgary Zoo) as of March 2013. The two giant pandas that have joined Toronto Zoo’s family are Er Shun (female) and Da Mao (male). The name ‘Er Shun’ means ‘Double Smoothness’. Er Shun was born at the Chongqing Zoo on August 10, 2007 and was raised by her mother. Da Mao was born on September 1, 2008 at the Chengdu Research Base of Panda Breeding. This pair was chosen as a good genetic match for breeding…The giant panda is one of the most beloved animals in the world and is perhaps the most powerful symbol in the world for wildlife conservation. It is also one of the most endangered species in the world, with only around 1,600 left in the wild.

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.