A heartwarming video captured a lively giant panda playfully nibbling on its keeper's boots while frolicking with other pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
In the footage, male panda cub Ai Lun energetically interacts with his keeper, adorably attempting to bite their shoes with his tiny teeth. Later in the clip, Ai Lun shows off his agility, climbing up and down a frame with ease before snuggling into a blue basket alongside his playful companions.
Ai Lun and his twin brother, Ai Mi, were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on June 15, 2018. Their mother, Ai Li, was born on July 24, 2011, and has been a cherished member of the base ever since. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding excels in conservation of giant pandas while serving as a vital hub for scientific research, public education, and eco-tourism. The institution is celebrated globally for its dedication to protecting and breeding giant pandas, red pandas, and other endangered species native to China.
Footage captures adorable moments of panda playing with keeper in Chengdu
Some Iranians in Türkiye are crossing back over the border, driven by worry and desperation, as a nationwide communications blackout in Iran has left them cut off from their loved ones.
Protests have erupted in many Iranian cities since Dec. 28. They initially began with Tehran bazaar merchants demonstrating against the sharp devaluation of the national currency rial, and soaring inflation, before spreading to other cities. The unrest has led to casualties among both security forces and civilians.
At the Turkish-Iranian border, many are returning with no certainty about what awaits them, filled instead with questions and growing fear for those on the other side of the border.
"I went to Van yesterday for internet. I urgently needed to use the internet. I got it done. Now I'm heading straight back. There are protests everywhere. We can't get any news. We can't communicate with our families. And it's not just me, there are many Iranians outside the country who can't reach their families," said Feriste, an Iranian citizen.
With communications blacked out across Iran, those outside the country feel powerless to check on the situation back home. For some, this silence has prompted them to return across the border, even as tensions continue to rise.
"We can't get any news. There is no internet. Everything is shut down. I want to search. I want to find out. I want to see my brother. I'm going to see my family," said Husnu, an Iranian citizen.
"I work in Türkiye, and I have no news from Iran at all. I'm going back because I'm worried about my family. It's been days since I last heard from them, and because I'm worried, I'm returning to Iran now. Of course, we are concerned about our safety. We don't know what awaits us there," said another Iranian.
With protests escalating and government blackouts still in place, many Iranians are caught between staying in safety abroad and risking everything to reconnect with their families.
"We had to come to Türkiye because we couldn't reach our families. Schools were closed already. All official institutions were shut down. We have no information about other cities either, because there is no communication network there. There is no television, no internet. We can't even check Twitter," said Nazlican, another Iranian citizen.
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
