Our affection for Pandas goes beyond their cute black & white patterned coats and generally pacific personalities. Extensively studied and observed in captivity at zoos and conservation centers, these rare bears have been caught countless times engaging in, well, engaging behavior of which we’re presenting 8 eye-opening examples.

New Bears On The Blocks

(images via: M.I.C Gadget and People’s Daily Online)

When you’re a Panda, staying cool is always a black & white issue – such is life when you’re covered in thick fur, don’t shed, and (unlike most other bears) don’t even hibernate.

(images via: CCTV, China Whisper and Telegraph Media Group Limited)

In their typically mountainous and forested natural habitat Pandas cope well with summer temperatures but at the Wuhan City Zoo where temps recently soared to 35 degrees Celsius (95° Fahrenheit) it’s another story entirely. Luckily for the Pandas, zookeepers hit on a very cool solution to help them beat the heat: big blocks of ice!

LeBruin James

(image via: Odd Stuff)

Looks like somebody’s taking their talents to South Beijing… if they can drag themselves out of the hot tub first. Seriously, this is one Panda with balls – OK, one Panda with one ball and you just know that if he ever gets onto the court you’re gonna see some truly amazing dribbling.

It’s A Red-Legger Day

(image via: National Geographic)

The number of visitors to the Chiba Zoological Park near Tokyo, Japan greatly increased in 2005 following word that Futa, a 2-year-old Red (or Lesser) Panda had a habit of standing on his hind legs. Red Pandas can live up to 15 years in captivity but the oddly shiny statue erected by the Park will live on long after he’s gone.

(images via: Odango Homes, Doubutu1 and Cryptomundo)

“We have kept lesser pandas for nearly 20 years at this zoo,” stated Chiba Zoological Park official Hiroyuki Asano, “but I have not seen one like Futa, which can stand for such a long time.” Futa isn’t as bipedal as still photos and screen-shots seem to show, however, as his two-legged excursions typically last for only 10 or so seconds.

Panda Pig-Out

(images via: These Humours, Chengdus & Don’ts, Animal Pictures & Wallpapers and Inadawords)

Pandas eat a lot and they love to eat, which leads to scenes like those above. Yes indeed, you can call Pandas chubby, lazy, sleepy or any other of the Seven Dwarfs’ names but don’t call them late for dinner! Of course, the visual impact of multiple near-identical Pandas all chowing down in unison is a wonder in itself.

Cosplay Conservation

(images via: Lost Laowai and Associated Newspapers Ltd)

Either there’s a lack of actual Pandas at the Hetaoping Research and Conservation Center in western China or actual Pandas are easier to fool than we thought. You’ll be relieved to learn it’s the latter, part of an ingenuous scheme by Center staff to keep their charges from getting too used to people.

(images via: Judgmental and Motherboard)

It might just be a bit TOO ingenuous, however, as those with thoughts of conducting a cub-napping may find themselves just one fur suit away from success. Not that we’re suggesting such a thing, of course, and the easy part would be actually snatching the Panda… getting a Panda suit and getting within shooting distance (hint hint) of the Hetaoping Research and Conservation Center would be somewhat more difficult.

Going Rogue, Panda Style

(images via: AZ Daily Sun and Kawaii Shirt Shop)

Drivers navigating Fort Valley Road in the early pre-dawn hours of Monday, August 22nd, 2011 can be forgiven for spilling their coffee into their laps after a hacker programmed an electronic sign to flash “rogue panda on rampage”. It took the Flagstaff Police Department over 8 hours to return the sign to its previous message but in the meantime they issued a statement: “We want to assure all citizens of Flagstaff that there is no problem with rogue pandas.” I’m sure that was a huge relief for traumatized Flagstaffians fearful of some sort of Pandapocalypse Now.

Pandas: Natures Rock(ing) Stars

(image via: Contractor UK)

Do Pandas like rocking horses? More than just about anything, it seems. While one pic of a Panda rocking out on a child’s plastic playground pony can be written off to just another ‘shop, two or three or ten simply can’t.

(images via: Content in a Cottage, OnAsia and Fairfax Media)

It’s not certain where the practice of Pandas riding rocking horses began but there’s no doubt the creatures love it, especially the younger animals. Nowadays zoos and ecological centers from Szechuan to San Diego are letting the Pandas rock to their hearts’ content.

Fly The Furry Skies

(image via: Shanghaiist)

C’mon, did you really expect an environmentally threatened creature like a Panda to get checked into the cargo hold like an ordinary piece of baggage? Besides, like most airlines passengers these days he just eats shoots and leaves – perhaps that could’ve been rephrased – and honestly, would you rather have snakes on a plane?