Recently, the Dayi Management and Protection Station of the Giant Panda National Park released some findings from its first-quarter of 2026 transect patrols. At an altitude of 2,837 meters in winter, an infrared camera captured precious footage of two giant pandas playing in the snow.

According to preliminary analysis by experts, the two pandas are similar in size, and the smaller one also engages in scent marking, making it unlikely that they are a mother and cub. Moreover, their frequent sniffing of each other suggests behavior more characteristic of pandas entering estrus.

The ability to capture such rare footage is inseparable from the excellent natural ecological environment of the Chengdu sector of the Giant Panda National Park. The Dayi sector, where this footage was taken, is located in the middle section of the Longmen Mountains — an area characterized by high mountains and deep valleys, dense vegetation, and year-round humidity above 80%. Even when winter temperatures drop to -4°C, the bamboo forests there remain lush, providing sufficient food for giant pandas.

The frequent capture of wild giant pandas by infrared cameras in the Chengdu sector of the Giant Panda National Park is a true reflection of the effectiveness of China's ecological conservation efforts. The winter appearance of these two giant pandas in the same frame is not only a lucky capture by the infrared camera but also an inevitable result of ecological protection. As more and more rare wild animals appear in front of the cameras, and as giant pandas, creatures accustomed to solitary living, are seen wandering together through the forest, we are seeing not just adorable scenes but also a beautiful picture of a steadily improving ecosystem and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.