Chinese Researchers Dress Up In Adorable, Slightly Creepy Panda Costumes

In order to reintroduce the pandas to the wild — and avoid having any human influence on them.

For the past two years, researchers at China's Wolong National Nature Reserve have been working to reintroduce giant panda Caocao and her cub Taotao to the wild.

While interacting one-on-one with the pandas, they (amazingly) wear costumes to ensure Taotao's environment is devoid of any human influence...

1. Dec. 3, 2010:

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Here, Taotao is 4 months old.

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4. Feb. 20, 2011:

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Here, Taotao at six months, being transferred to a larger enclosure at the beginning of the second phase of reintroduction.

5. May 3:

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A researcher approaches Taotao again. This time, the young panda and its mother are being transferred to a bigger, more complex living enclosure — the beginning of the third phase of reintroduced them to the wild.

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8. Oct. 7:

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China Daily China Daily Information Corp - CDIC / Reuters

10. Dec. 3, 2010:

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