Deep in the forests of Tiantai Mountain, southwest China's Sichuan Province, panda mothers are teaching their cubs crucial survival skills as part of China's giant panda reintroduction program.
In a forested area near the Hetaoping Wild Training Base in Wolong, three mother panda and cub pairs are undergoing a stage of training designed to prepare the cubs for independent life in the wild. The site spans approximately one square kilometer and lies between 2,450 and 3,100 meters in elevation.
The training, based on the "mother-led" model, allows panda moms to guide their cubs through hands-on behavioral learning, demonstrating how to search for food, respond to nature, and survive outside of captivity. To ensure the mothers get enough nutrition to nurse their cubs, panda keepers hike into the mountains every morning and afternoon to provide supplementary feeding.
At dawn, keeper Mou Shijie began sorting freshly purchased bamboo shoots, which are stored in a temperature-controlled cellar at around nine degrees Celsius to preserve freshness for up to four days.
Currently, the wild training site hosts three panda mothers -- Tiantian, Xianxian, and Huihui -- with their cubs. Having lived in the area for the past ten months, their movements vary daily. Before heading out with feeding baskets, the keepers need to identify the panders' locations using tracking equipment.
According to Mou, the panda mothers wear GPS collars for real-time tracking, while their cubs are fitted with radio transmitters that emit location signals but do not provide precise positioning.
Shortly after entering the forest, Mou spotted Huihui. She promptly responded to his familiar call and came down to feed.
Since these panda mothers were raised in captivity, they remain familiar with their human caretakers. During feeding times, they often emerge at the sound of the keepers' calls. The cubs, meanwhile, stay hidden in the forest, relying on their mothers for nourishment and wilderness guidance.
An hour-long hike up a slippery mountain trail led Mou to Tiantian's usual area. This time, however, she failed to respond.
"Because it's summer now, Tiantai Mountain is full of bamboo shoots," said Mou.
Assuming Tiantian had already eaten well, Mou continued deeper into the forest in search of the third panda mother, Xianxian.
Mou said that rewilding training for panda cubs typically lasts between one and two years. At the end of the training, each cub is assessed individually to determine if it's ready for release into the wild.
Panda moms train cubs for life in wild
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
