'Half-naked' panda becomes Internet star

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A photo showing a panda shaved and "stripped of his pants" ahead of surgery has caused quite a stir on China's social networks where it was shared countless times.

A week ago, the staff at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda found that giant panda Mao Dou could not walk with its right hind leg. After examinations, a veterinarian confirmed the panda had a fractured femur. A successful surgery treated the injury.

Mao Dou eating bamboo. /Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Photo

Mao Dou's mother Mao Mao is the prototype of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games mascot, and her great-grandmother Bath was the mascot of 1990 Beijing Asian Games. On November 2017, former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather adopted Mao Dou with 100,000 yuan (15,000 US dollars) and renamed it “TMT Floyd Mayweather.”

To ensure that Mao Dou is safe during the delicate postoperative period, the base has established a medical team to care for her 24 hours a day. The staff will try to prevent her from such activities as licking her wounds to promote optimum healing.

A week after the surgery, Mao Dou was back on track with a good appetite and spirit. However, her lively and active personality poses a great challenge to her care.

Yuan Xiao's half-naked photo. /Weibo Photo

Ten years ago, another panda Yuan Xiao became famous also after being pictured "half-naked." The panda was stuck in a wooden joint and got injured. Doctors shaved the fur off its hind legs, triggering much discussion on China’s social media.

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