Scientists say they have decoded ‘panda language’

At long last, Chinese scientists have decoded the language of the panda, working out the meaning of 13 different giant panda vocalizations, so that we can finally understand what they are always yammering on about. In the last decade, the number of giant pandas has risen by 17 percent, thanks to efforts to conserve their habitat, including a ban on logging in place since 1998, and the work of the Chinese authorities to create new reserves and crack down on poaching.

Zhang Hemin, head of the centre, said that his staff had managed to decode a few of the results. They first recorded panda cubs and adults in the center in various situations, such aswhen they were eating, mating, nursing, and fighting.

Then they collected a large amount of data on pandas’ voices and activities, and analysed the voiceprints.

Meanwhile, panda cubs make a “Wow-Wow” noise when they are unhappy, a “Coo-Coo” sound when they are happy and a “Gee-Gee” noise when they are hungry.

Adult pandas are usually found alone therefore when they are small, they communicate through their mothers, found the researchers. “Male pandas will issue “baa” sounds and females will “chirp” like a bird”, said Zhang. “If a panda mother keeps tweeting like a bird, she may be anxious about her babies. She barks loudly when a stranger comes near”, said the scientist.

Mr Zhang says that understanding how pandas communicate will help conservationists to protect the endangered animals, particularly in the wild.

The CCRCGP says it will continue the study, and are looking forward to the invention of panda translator which may use high-tech voice recognition technology.

The 2014 census of the World Wildlife Fund said there are 1,864 giant pandas living in the wild, majority of which are found in Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces in China. There were 375 giant pandas in captivity at the end of 2013, about 200 of them at the CCRCGP.