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Giant PandasDavid Powell, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Scientist, Giant Panda Behavior Studies, Department of Conservation Biology
Giant Pandas

David PowellQ: How long have you been interested in pandas, and why did you decide to be a panda researcher?
A: I've only worked with pandas for 2 years, though I've always thought they were special animals. I decided to become a panda researcher because I felt like I could use my talents as an animal behaviorist to help save giant pandas.

Q: Why do you think pandas are so popular?
A: I think there are many reasons and different people have different reasons. Many people find them attractive because of their appearance. They have a neat coloration and they are round and roly poly. I think other people are drawn to them because they are so rare and because they come from a part of the world that Americans know so little about.

Q: What research projects are you working on now?
A: Right now we are observing the pandas' night time behavior, their adjustment to their new home, and soon we'll be starting to study their bamboo preferences.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish?
A: We hope to find out more basic information about pandas. There are a lot of fundamental things about them that we don't understand. We'd like to be able to identify the characteristics of an optimal panda exhibit and to determine what we would need to do for captive pandas to prepare them for reintroduction.

Q: What is a typical day like for you?
A: A typical day is mostly spent in my office! I plan all of our projects and make sure that the data we collect get analyzed. I usually visit the panda house at least once a day to check in with the keepers and find out how the animals are that day. We have volunteers who collect data for us so I usually chat with them as well. I am also planning a trip to China soon to study captive pandas there so I am coordinating a lot of that now.

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