Workers move giant panda Weiwei in a cage, June 20, 2018. The giant panda returned to Sichuan Province from Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)
Giant panda named Weiwei arrived back home in Sichuan Province on Wednesday night after being allegedly mistreated by its keeper at Wuhan Zoo in Hubei Province.
The keeper, now suspended by the zoo, was found smoking and washing hair while attending Weiwei in a video, which soon went viral online and aroused people's concerns over the health conditions of Weiwei, the Beijing News newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Workers move giant panda Weiwei in a cage, June 20, 2018. The giant panda returned to Sichuan Province from Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)
Other pictures and videos posted by netizens also showed that the keeper was feeding Weiwei an ant-bitten apple, Weiwei's nose was turning white and its palms and genital were losing fur, the newspaper added.
The zoo announced on Tuesday that they had suspended the keeper and would strengthen staff management. Considering a new panda hall was under construction which would disturb the living environment, they decided to send Weiwei back home to Sichuan.
Workers move giant panda Weiwei in a cage, June 20, 2018. The giant panda returned to Sichuan Province from Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)
The zoo keepers began transferring Weiwei to a cage on Wednesday morning after it finished its half-hour morning exercise routine. The zoo said the cage transfer went smoothly and Weiwei arrived home safe and sound that night.
Weiwei was adopted by Wuhan Zoo 10 years ago after the devastating Wenchuan earthquake stuck Sichuan and it has put on 30 kilograms since living in Wuhan.
Around 1.5 million people visited the zoo every year to see Weiwei and many children would visit Weiwei every year on Aug 29 to celebrate its birthday.
According to the zoo, Weiwei would undergo body checks twice a year and receive behavioral training to communicate with the keepers. The zoo said the body check last year showed that Weiwei was in good condition and spirit, but did note that some white spots began to appear around Weiwei's nose and eyes.
Wuhan Forestry Bureau said in an announcement last August after the body check that the white spots were caused by lack of tyrosine which might result from insufficient exposure to the sun, a problem all captive animals face.
Workers move giant panda Weiwei in a cage, June 20, 2018. The giant panda returned to Sichuan Province from Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)
Workers move giant panda Weiwei in a cage, June 20, 2018. The giant panda returned to Sichuan Province from Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)
Workers move giant panda Weiwei in a cage, June 20, 2018. The giant panda returned to Sichuan Province from Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)
Workers move giant panda Weiwei in a cage, June 20, 2018. The giant panda returned to Sichuan Province from Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. (Photo/chinadaily.com.cn)
