A baby panda falls face-first off a stage during an event. (Photo/West China Metropolis Daily)
(ECNS) -- A photo capturing the moment when a giant panda-cub fell face-first off a stage during an event has been recognized as one of the world's best photos in 2016.
Taken on September 29, the image captures a giant panda cub tumbling off a low stage, where 23 giant pandas, born last year, were on display at the Research Base of the Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, Sichuan province.
In the photo, a panda breeder is seen hurrying to pick up the cub, with hands stretched out.
The scene was photographed by Zhang Lei, who works for the West China Metropolis Daily.
Global media outlets showed their admiration for the photo. It was selected by Reuters in their Pictures of the Year 2016, by Time Magazine in its 50 Astonishing Animal Photos of 2016, and by The Atlantic News in its top 25 photos of 2016. The Times and the Daily Mail also published it.
In China, it received much attention after being released by media outlets such as China Daily, China Newsweek, the Global Times, sina.com, and Oriental Outlook magazine. The photo received tens of millions of clicks online.
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding welcomed a record-breaking 23 giant panda babies in 2016. This was celebrated on September 29, when all the animals were brought together on stage.
Zhang recalled the panda cubs as being both lovely and naughty. "I thought one of them might perhaps fall off the stage," Zhang said.
