Hungry Panda Swipes Bones From Pig Pen

1:20pm UK, Sunday February 28, 2010
Huw Borland, Sky News Online

A hungry wild panda broke into a villager's pig pen to chew on bones, China's Central Television has reported.

The black and white beast was first spotted in a field, but later found gnawing on the animal remains left in the enclosure, in Shandong Province.

The panda appeared to be eating bone sections only, spitting meat parts away, the TV channel added.

It had apparently come down from the mountains in search of food.

After eating its fill, the panda quietly left.

Scientists believe there are around 1,590 giant pandas living in the wild in China, most in the mountains of the southwest regions.

The endangered species, which normally eats bamboo, is considered a national icon in China.

The animals are often used to bolster foreign relations, coining the term "panda diplomacy".

See video at: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Strange-News/Panda-Hungry-Bear-Breaks-Into-Pig-Pen-In-Chinese-Village-To-Chew-On-Bones/Article/201002415562101?f=rss