A farming family in western Sichuan's Baoxing county got an early new year's surprise when a wild giant panda entered their house and gobbled up nearly 2 kilograms of pork bones that had been placed near the pigpen. After its feast, the panda gestured to the farmer that it was still hungry, and the happy-to-please host brought out some more fresh pork ribs for his guest. The panda took the bones straight from the hands of the farmer and sat down in the house to continue eating, after which the panda had a brief stroll and then a nap until the next morning.

"It was around 6 p.m., and I had been making dinner. I stepped out of the room and saw a panda just in front of the doorway. I told the whole family, we should walk with it to the forest over there. About a half-hour later, my wife saw the panda sitting next to the pigpen chewing on the bones," explained Tao Defen.

Li Tingzhong said, "These years, pandas frequently come by our house, usually three or four times a year. Every time they eat the bones. They're very gentle and not at all afraid of people, as if they're pets we've raised. After they're done eating they'll sleep next to the pigpen or against the wall and don't wake up again until daylight the next day."

According to a village official, this panda has been spotted many times by the villagers and last year ate the corn of some of the farmers, but this was the first time the animal has entered a home.

The panda is about one meter long, weighs about 200 pounds and is around 8 years old, estimates the forestry administration.

Chengdu Commercial Daily

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