Wei Hua, a panda breeder at the Giant Panda Protection and Research Center of China in Sichuan Province, lies in bed at a hospital. (Photo/newssc.org）
(ECNS) -- A breeder was attacked and seriously injured by a captive-bred giant panda mother that was receiving training before being released into the wild, said the Giant Panda Protection and Research Center of China in Sichuan Province on Wednesday.
Wei Hua, a breeder at the center's Wolong Tiantai Mountain base, was severely wounded in the arms and legs and hospitalized after he was attacked by Xi Mei on Dec. 17.
Xi Mei arrived at the center with her baby panda Ba Xi on Dec. 14.
Wei entered the training area and tried to find the cub after failing to locate it for two days. The complexity of the geological structure in the area hindered operation of Wolong Tiantai's radio positioning system, according to the center.
The cub was eventually found at the other end of the training area.
Wei was attacked when he was leaving. The mother panda may have misunderstood his intentions and tried to protect her cub.
Wei is in hospital for further treatment after an operation.
