Are pandas the most misunderstood animal? - Lucy Cooke

Uncover the most common misperceptions about pandas, and find out why it's so difficult for them to breed in captivity.
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In the 1930’s, a grand panda drama unfolded at the Chicago Zoo. Zookeepers procured a female panda named Mei Mei, and they were determined to find her a mate. They found a prospective suitor named Mei Lan, and the public eagerly awaited the patter of tiny panda paws. But the wait dragged on... and on. Why weren’t the bears breeding? Lucy Cooke shares common misperceptions about pandas.
Lesson by Lucy Cooke, directed by Keegan Thornhill.
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Chin Beng Tan, Tom Boman, Karen Warner, Iryna Panasiuk, Aaron Torres, Eric Braun, Sonja Worzewski, Michael Clement, Adam Berry, Ghaith Tarawneh, Nathan Milford, Tomas Beckett, Alice Ice, Eric Berman, Kurt Paolo Sevillano, Jennifer Heald, Megulo Abebe, isolwi, Kate Sem, Ujjwal Dasu, Angel Alberici, Minh Quan Dinh, Sylvain, Terran Gimpel, Talia Sari, Katie McDowell, Allen, Mahina Knuckles, Charmaine Hanson, Thawsitt, Jezabel, Abdullah Abdulaziz, Xiao Yu, Melissa Suarez, Brian A. Dunn, Francisco Amaya, Daisuke Goto, Matt Switzler, Peng, Tzu-Hsiang, Bethany Connor, Jeremy Shimanek, Mark Byers, Avinash Amarnath, Xuebicoco, Rayo, Po Foon Kwong, Boffin, Jesse Jurman, Scott Markley and Elija Peterson.

[@TEDEd]

Want to keep exploring uniquely kooky corners of the natural world? We’ve got a book rec for you: Lucy Cooke’s “The Truth About Animals.” The very book this video was adapted from! Learn more about some remarkable animals- and the crafty humans who study them- by checking out her book here: bit.ly/TruthAboutAnimals

[@laurahan715]

The part where the female panda was interested in the zookeeper got me laughing so hard 🫣😆

[@josenicacioo]

Me too 😂😂

[@animuszen136]

The poor zookeeper who found out that little “pairing dynamic” deserves a raise… And maybe some counseling Jesus 😅

[@marllram]

I was like, yep. Russia. Of course that's the only place where humans and bears are literally the same species.

[@paddor]

That’s speciest

[@monkeygalaxy6322]

Hi Panda, I'm a zookeeper, so I expect you to be interested in me 😂

[@justinehercthehuman]

Well, this was a rollercoaster of information I was not expecting.

[@hungry_girl211]

Fr 😂

[@Drahko12]

I didn’t expect a peeing competition to be part of an animal attraction ritual😂 that’s funny. Pandas are wild

[@SandpiperArtsofWOF]

Literally

[@suyiyu8471]

😂😂😂

[@xXxSkyViperxXx]

pee to show dominance. a classic move.

[@germanomagnone]

As I see, it's easier for pandas to do Kung Fu than to do babies in zoos

[@Haruxss]

Lmao

[@Umar-it3um]

U are absolutely excellent at making people split a gut😂

[@xoddopaul]

Haha 😂

[@garg4531]

Fascinating! And I love that point you made in the end Even if we *could* breed pandas successfully, it won’t do much good if their natural habitat is destroyed, other than simply keeping their species alive in captivity I suppose

[@Phootaba]

Hold up. I feel we need to stay a bit longer at the 'falsely cuddly vegetarians' part!

[@rtype2816]

Although most of their diet consists of bamboo, pandas can eat meat as a source of protein, and despite coming off as clumsy they are still bears and capable of violence and agression between eachother or other animals, including humans, there have been documented panda attacks many times.

[@thenerdbeast7375]

In the wild Pandas will also eat any small animals they can capture such as rodents, birds and snakes. They primarily eat bamboo because it is the most abundant resource in their habitats but they will not shy away from some meat with their vegetables too. Also the adults are still bears so they can and will hurt you if they are in a bad mood or their space is intruded upon.

[@myaltaccount4438]

their digestive systems are actually more equipped to digest meat than foliage :D

[@gnochhuos645]

Not to mention most herbivore are actually opportunistic omnivore, meaning they will snatch up the extra protein here and there when they get the chance. For evidence, you can search “Deer eating birds”

[@Inkyminkyzizwoz]

​@@myaltaccount4438 Which is why the bamboo passes through them VERY quickly - over 40 times a day!

[@Raylight5068]

4:22 Lol, the Pandaboy. The animation was so funny and good 😂. The narration was so simple to understand

[@NullCyan]

4:22 I appreciate the animator's creativity xD

[@ummmmmmmmm200]

1-3 days a year? can revert their pregnancy too? omg they are so lucky

[@NyanyiC]

​Humans abort pregnancies so it's almost the same thing

[@NewLightning1]

​@@lanadandekar5523 Uhh..... wait?

[@johnharrison7585]

​@@lanadandekar5523take that ability? You mean you can't murder your children?

[@hanniaedithmartinezadame794]

Most animals do, but primates lost that ability long time ago and it's the reason we have periods, we can't absorb the waste so we have to throw it out. It's kinda sad, it also explains how primates have r@ping behaviors, unlike many other species.

[@Portrial]

I dont know how lucky thwt is considering thats how natural selection took place. Those who mutated the ability to

[@SilverDragonMoon18]

In short: the whole “pandas would be extinct already if not for humans” thing reflects more on the humans and less on the pandas

[@somerandomuser5155]

No. Panda is threatened to extinction by their habitat destruction caused by human in first place

[@SilverDragonMoon18]

@@somerandomuser5155 that’s what I meant?

[@HateMoonCookie]

@@somerandomuser5155bro pandas can mate 1-3 days out of the year it’s their fault

[@Red_Angel-dw4cv]

​@@HateMoonCookieif humans don't intrude on their businesses, I think they can repopulate just as well as other animals can.

[@Justaguythatcameby]

​@@HateMoonCookie Yet they only started going extinct for the destruction of their habitat

[@Mary-J-OK]

So glad she said that part at the end (Maybe our time would be better spent protecting the natural environment) because I was thinking it the whole way through. The lockdowns across the world showed very clearly that when we get out of the way, animals/nature can thrive again. We have to work to find balance somehow.

[@HIFLY01]

Its ironic to mention lockdowns and China like that

[@inevespace]

Child-free is the best green movement of all time.

[@forzaacmilan36]

@@inevespaceBut then who’s going to finish One Piece for me? Or read the final Game of Thrones book? Hmmmm????!!!!!

[@SuperHoeCakes]

The animator should get a raise

[@Mojud_Zikr]

How many times you guys will say the same just for some likes? Even TedEd team got fed up with these comments and stopped giving heart.

[@ofir231]

​@@Mojud_ZikrYt comment section are full of npcs

[@kyb7795]

The raise should get animated

[@jin_cotl]

Animation raise this the should be

[@kkyoto24]

The fact that he was transferred from MAPPA is raise enough

[@NguyenJake-se3pm]

3:58 this is better lip synching than some high budget animation made by professional studios

[@pratyayroy5881]

The way the Moscow Panda entered the zookeeper's room. Omg. 😂

[@priscillanazar1152]

Pandas sound crazy complex animals Love the voice and animations

[@Phaeton667]

This animation was really funny and engaging. It also may have changed my stance on Pandas as I just saw them as silly bears that don't want to procreate, but it seems more complex than that. I do however think they get too much funding and attention taken away from other endangered species that are more crucial to the ecosystem because we humans have cute mammal bias. Luckily I don't find them cute so that helps lol

[@ArariaKAgelessTraveller]

Being cute and famous bring profits more profits means more attention and care it's as simple as that

[@joan1609]

They literally bring in money that gets used on other species. That's why mammals like them are important.

[@seatistaken]

They are considered an umbrella species. By protecting them and their habitat it helps other animals who live in the same habit and overall conservation efforts. People like to give money for cute animals. No one is raising millions for a snake or snail.

[@wesleybantugan5604]

I'm glad it doesn't get into the politics of the pandas, but alas that is a massive contributor as to WHY this situation exists in the first place

[@freshlymade7156]

and there, you just had to relate that to politics lol talk about oxymoron

[@swaanm]

⁠​⁠@@freshlymade7156It is related to politics, though. The Chinese government sends pandas to countries they like in order to signal their alliance. It’s called panda diplomacy. Some people believe that panda diplomacy is harming panda populations, as sending the pandas overseas and away from their natural habitat is stressful for them.

[@JamesPeach]

@@swaanm Same could be said about every animal in a Zoo, yet I bet you've gone to one.

[@swaanm]

@@JamesPeach I mean I did when I was a kid because my parents would take me, but I probably wouldn’t now. I would have to research more before making an opinion tbh. Hence why I said “some people believe” when talking about panda diplomacy, I don’t feel well-versed enough in the subject to make a statement on how it is affecting the animals.

[@JamesPeach]

@@swaanm Interesting to see how some objections are made by 'I heard someone say'. Probably better to keep those comments unpublished if you're not sure instead of spreading misinformation.

[@sherryong6991]

This animator is so funny 🤣

[@GOOD_FARMER]

2:18 wasn't expecting that 🤣🤣

[@AnangRabo]

Crossbreeding panda and human hemmmmmm??????? I curious "for scientific reason" how the baby will looks. Is it kimera panda body with monkey head???? or other abomination????

[@ribbonfly]

Pandas are cute but I am annoyed when people say they are ecologically useless. Like how do you know and determine that?

[@Mojud_Zikr]

Are you Vegan? If no, then their reasons for determining that could be exactly same as yours.

[@liampett1313]

Based on their relationships with other organisms. So much excess funding has gone to panda bears instead of other animals which need more help and provide more too ecological systems.

[@ribbonfly]

​@@liampett1313 Nature can be so complicated in ways we truly do not know what will happen with the removal or introducing of animals.

[@Kuda_Kapmes]

Panda are useless

[@thenerdbeast7375]

I can tell you exactly why conservation focuses more on breeding than habitat protection: politics. We can't strong arm other nations into taking further strides in animal conservation, for pandas in particular it would entail telling China what to do which we all know is not going to happen. However zoos and breeding in captivity _is_ something we can control and practice abroad, so with the limited funds conservation gets, they want to invest those funds into practices that will get more definitive results.

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

Does China want to keep pandas around or doesn't it?

[@thenerdbeast7375]

@@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648 In a way yes, but this is also the country that also wants tigers to be around and yet use their parts in "traditional medicine". As far as China is concerned it doesn't mind having Pandas solely exist in captivity if it means they can continue to develop infrastructure and utilize its country's space for the people's use. It is hard to make governments care more about the natural world if the alternative is industry, housing and capital.

[@zhanhuang7459]

⁠@@thenerdbeast7375 China is not a monolith. There are poachers illegally hunting tigers, and there are government & civilian forces trying to catch those poachers. In terms of pandas, there are already successful efforts to raise their population in the wild, like the Wolong reserve. The video ended on a misleading note, probably to provoke a reaction.

[@thenerdbeast7375]

​@@zhanhuang7459 China's government really cracks down when it wants to, if they really cared anti-poaching efforts would be far more successful. As for the Wolong reserve, it isn't enough. What happens in a few decades when the reserve's bamboo forest blossoms and dies off? Pandas need free travel between different forests on different blooming cycles to survive.

[@zhanhuang7459]

@@thenerdbeast7375 sure, but you have to realize no government has unlimited resources. And as much as China loves pandas, there’s no way the government will displace cities to make room for their habitat.

[@LeprosuGnome]

Pandas are a keystone species, not in the wild, but in conservation efforts in human society. They're "cute" and attract A LOT of human attention (attention = money), so the money raised by the panda's can be spent on other more important and less fortunate species in the wild.

[@mid-sizesedan488]

I never thought about it that way

[@bandana.7077]

I don't think pandas are this highly valued by China and many other countries just because they're "cute", I feel like there's another catch to this whole situation

[@PakBallandSami]

pandas can't find the right partner damn i didn't knew pandas could be so relatable

[@Inkyminkyzizwoz]

*know

[@kmh4076]

I mean, they’re round, always eating, always sleeping, and tumbling down the hill, what more can’t you relate to? 😂😂

[@ilovejtoh1234]

the fact that Mei Mei is little sister in Chinese makes it moe funnier.

[@tierrasweetpea3069]

“Beary White💿” 😂😂💞

[@pokeman260]

I love the animation in this video ❤

[@containedhurricane]

I guess it consists of hundreds of drawings for the in-betweens. I'd be amazed if one animator could make it in two weeks

[@prickly_procyonids]

Why does conservation focus so much on captive breeding them? Well, I think the answer is pretty simple: money. Pandas are so popular at zoos that we pay exorbitant amounts of money to China to rent them to our AZA facilities. They are a luxury animal for a zoo to have. I’m sure actual conservation efforts are important to facilities, but at least half of the interest of more is 100% due to money.

[@Stato517]

Salute to the animator 😆

[@JJ_42]

When i read the title, i was like, "say no more!" 😂

[@thekoifishcoyote8762]

It still feels weird that pandas haven't been endangered for almost a decade

[@Zentusichernun]

As a wise italian man with a nice beard once said, "Pandas are really trying hard to end their species"

[@me-df9re]

Nope, it's humans who destroy animals natural habitation and then blames the animal who are forced to live in zoo and don't want to reproduce there. Animals survived fine before humans did this.

[@yoshi9358]

Waluigi ?

[@saria6742]

The "Chicago Zoo" isn't Brookfield. Brookfield Zoo is in the west suburbs. The "Chicago Zoo" is Lincoln Park Zoo, which is in the city limits itself (and is completely free admission)

[@eighmie28]

If you haven't read Lucy Cooke's books, you're missing out. She's the perfect balance of informative and hilarious.

[@lucychu5350]

One of the major reasons they keep breeding them in captivity is because of what happens after the birth of the cubs. Many first time moms are not sure what to do because when cubs poop it hardens essentially sealing the area close. And usually in captivity, the caretakers help with that so as to not cause infections and obstructions in the bowels. Also, in the wild, if a cub is born weak then it is usually abandoned by the mom panda.

[@adnankarimsampd3504]

Everything aside, the animations are just too good

[@Staingo_Jenkins]

Props to the animator.

[@aayushrajeshsinha7128]

2:16 that animation 😂

[@vietkoala303]

The thought of absorbing your own fetuses scared me

[@kaunghlamyat]

Good! Now I want a video of the process *how human babies are made*

[@planetoforts]

NO

[@kaunghlamyat]

:)@@planetoforts

[@GOOD_FARMER]

​@@kaunghlamyat with the fact that most of man's are more interested in playing with cats then spending time with girls 🤣

[@perpetualbystander4516]

Well, you know...there are certain sites on the net that show exactly how it's done in great detail....

[@kaunghlamyat]

@@perpetualbystander4516 I visited them all

[@drishtikonbyajaykumar5310]

Best was when narrator became panda 😊. Funny and educational 👍

[@ryucerie]

Another high-quality video again!

[@jayceh]

One issue is that infant pandas are tiny and helpless, and current day pandas are much less aggressive than 5-10,000 years ago for various reasons not fully understood. Their natural habitat is home to the golden panthers and leopards who frequently prey on panda young.

[@jonbilgutay2]

I think we spend too much time and energy on panda preservation. We should focus or energy on preserving and rebuilding ecosystem and keystone species. My moto is 'preservation isn't just saving the cute ones.'

[@itsmekonte2821]

3:25 nahh this is insane😩

[@kazuha.gnshnmpct]

BEST TED-ED ANIMATIONS EVER OMG I'M DEADDDDD😭😭😭

[@tm7171]

0:46 Me too, Mei Mei, me too

[@fbmw98]

oh my god. this is hilarious. 🤣

[@TheFedvin]

The ‘who can pee the highest’ part killed me 😂😂😂

[@ncttotheworld127]

my fav ted ed video in 2024 so far

[@SendFoodz]

panda's ways to impress the ladies not to dissimilar from my own

[@krismiller801]

I'm biased because pandas have always been my favorite animal, but this was the best video ever!!! Bravo to everyone involved!!!!!

[@TheSquishey2]

Dont know why the zookeepers where upset at the 2 pandas being male. They are having the time of their life in there. 10/10 best bromance

[@mihaleben6051]

2:12 correct. Chemistry is random

[@lucianoosorio5942]

“You better surrender talking about them ABCs, cause all you want to teach kids are the birds and the bees!” Elvis Presley

[@hermanthehunter6170]

EPIC RAP BATTLE OF HISTORYYY

[@McoocM]

yo ignore this dude bad break up

[@McoocM]

bro i never clarified on the timing right as you sent me that message the song chamber of reflection came on and if you’ve heard that song the part where it goes alone again and says that there times hit hard man like i was with my homies and i see that message i read not even one and half sentences of that two paragraph break up text put my phone down looked straight up and heard alone again like bro 🗿

[@Vaish.001]

My favorite youtube channel

[@hennnerz]

Could you please do a video on epilepsy? I’m an epileptic myself

[@ganeshshivshankar4757]

One of the best videos.

[@davialmeida4442]

So essentially, pandas don’t fit very well with captive reproduction, but instead of learning why they don’t do well, we blame them for being bad and not trying hard enough Congratulation to us, we’re basically the US educational system

[@selfishbirch]

Amazing production quality. I giggled while learning. Thanks!

[@gajeshthakur]

"I care", said no one

[@selfishbirch]

@@gajeshthakur you do

[@ackton]

pandas are absolutely wild, such goofy stuff!

[@feliformcraze9306]

4:50 this is also a better way for the Sumatran rhinoceros.

[@JesusMartinez-rr2ry]

When would these people understand that priortizing on protecting the habitat of the pandas would be much more effective solution.

[@cursedblade6657]

I wonder if they have voluntary control over absorption of their fetus if possible they could just switch off this mechanism when they sense their population decline

[@pigglywiggly6672]

FINALLY REAL HARD-HITTING JOURNALISM IS BACK!!!! THESE ARE THE THINGS THE PEOPLE WANNA KNOW ABOUT 😩😩😩

[@Elviscapataccio]

The animator should get a raise

[@tramchaunguyen1605]

Protec environment is important, not only for darling pandaa but also for the other species including human😍

[@justwaiting5744]

So pretty much everything we heard about pandas since high school is wrong.

[@crazyasalways9272]

So what your saying is we need to work on conservation of their habitats more then breeding or simply letting them have interactions with more pandas I know a zoo (more of a conservation area) in ohio has those horses that the Chinese Emperor live (according to the story I heard) so when the people rebelled they pretty much almost wiped out their population and they were thought to be Extinct until some were found in the wilds near Germany now they are doing very well and they just let them do their own thing while doing drive through (in busses provided by the place) tours it was really cool I think it was called The Wilds

[@hairyviking9248]

Video missed a few things: Back in 2015 when pandas were trying to mate in captivity and the males were so out of shape that they couldn't/wouldn't finish, so the zoo keepers had to do pelvis exercises with them to raise their stamina. Also, China owns all pandas, even the ones bred in your local zoo. I wish that was a joke, but it's not.

[@seatistaken]

Wild panda populations are improving. The money and awareness generated from the captive pandas helps preserve the natural habitat. In an ideal world I wish we didn't have to do that, but it is what it is. Same issue with tigers, elephants and gorillas.

[@MNSweet]

I loved the animation, narration, and all the work that went into this so please understand I don't wish to belittling any of it when I say answer the the question posed at the end and why things are done they way they are is for Panda Deplomacy and as long as all pandas are considered property of their origin country and bring revenues to any zoo that houses them they will be used as a political tool. I wish for this comment to stay objective and neutral. I will not respond to anything that isn't. Sorry if this bothers anyone.

[@gohithsrivatsa4746]

Inner Peace.

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

Beary White...

[@rukkamewmew]

very fun and informative short, awesome job!!

[@AyazKhan-sd5jx]

Thnx

[@spiffy3430]

Po must be having a hard time

[@ErintheAutisticOctoling]

I could see the animator making their own show

[@nidohime6233]

Didn't turned out pandas wheren't really solitary animals, but they have some kind of community groups where they share the same cave to live in?

[@gailaltschwager7377]

Thank you!

[@DB-me7ol]

Remember, fellow Humans, it is always YOUR fault. Thank you.

[@newthrill4027]

As a human I find this offending please take it down.

[@DB-me7ol]

Ok sorry for being specieist👴💀

[@HIFLY01]

Its the bug men who destroyed their habitat so

[@TheSeabassss]

1-3 days a YEAR ??? How has that species survived this long

[@kaeelle]

the pandas are on fleek

[@mecahhannah]

Awesome as always thanks

[@fathersblessing9194]

Even animals knows their boundaries

[@YunLuoShanZe]

A little bit of knowledge: Under the influence of China's wildlife protection system, wild giant pandas were downgraded from "Endangered (EN)" in 2008 to "Vulnerable (VU)" in 2016 in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

[@porcorosso4330]

2:11 Can't we also do DNA now a days? Or is panda DNA in conclusive for determining gender?

[@nealwilliam]

2:51 Her slimmer panda like a controlled 😅😂

[@marklee968]

Im curious where is the ideas for these vids come from like it was the most random topic ever, very creative tho

[@MrFunnyPenny]

Definitely one of the best!

[@hydrotilling7043]

I try to take care of wild animals the best I can I try to feed all the birds in my area in the winter time I go through about 2000 loaves of bread a month that’s all I can do sometimes when I am traveling to feed them one meal a week Sometimes I buy them cat food But I know I cannot afford it and I know I need more food and I know I don’t live for hundreds of years but I found a solution 🍏🍎🍐🍋🍇🍒🍑🫐🥝🍈 Fruit trees and trees that produce excellent berries like elderberry or highbush cranberry I’m tens of thousands yesterday I planted a few thousand so easily so fast I pressure wash the apple into the ground. Step back a little bit spray dirt over top of it and get some manure, right long entire fence line and the whole entire place becomes a giant orchard😊

[@lakshmimohan6467]

The animation is just ❤❤❤❤

[@waluigihentailover6926]

I could help a lot with this crisis.

[@sbandmanu3609]

Can you make a clip on red panda and snow leopard. I think they very underrated because of overexaturation on panda

[@me.arbaazkhatib]

Yup that's why I don't support the idea of "conservation" of any species, the best you can do for them is not to cage them but simply let them be in their habitats.

[@AnneMarcyandsashaVlog-md9ev]

I did not know that pandas have peeing competitions. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@cikgutinghuaeechannel4782]

Panda diplomatic

[@Mgh-r]

Hi hi hi dear lady and all welcome back and thanks a lot ❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😂🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Avenli6270]

When Mei-Lan returned to china, he was paired with a couple of female pandas to produce offsprings. One of them Cheng-Gong(passed away a year ago) gave birth to twin pandas called Cheng-He-Hua and Cheng-He-Ye(This two are really popular in China.They are now three years old). They were thought to be male-female twin panda at first. But two or three months ago He-Ye was later found out to be a girl. Kinda funny that both father and daughter are misgendered lol.

[@mohammed-faraz]

Give the animator a raise