When it comes to pandas, you probably thought things were strictly black and white.
But meet Qi Lai, an extremely rare brown and white panda whose colourful appearance has left scientists scratching their heads.
While every bit as a cute as others of his species, he is a very special bear because there have only been five sightings of brown-white pandas since 1985.
Qi Lai (above) is an extremely rare brown and white panda.There have only been five sightings of the species since 198
Now aged five, he was found as a two-month-old cub, weak and alone, by researchers in a nature reserve in Qinling Mountains in China after his mother had apparently disappeared into the jungle.
For his own safety, they took him to the nearby Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue, Breeding and Research Centre where he was given medical treatment and fed on panda milk saved by the centre’s staff from other pandas.
He has since grown into the fine, eye-catching specimen he is today.
These photographs were taken by Katherine Feng, an American vet and member of the International League of Conservation Photographers, who was delivering veterinary supplies to the centre donated by the US charity Pandas International.
She was granted special permission to photograph him during the recent visit.
She said: ‘Brown and white pandas have only been seen in the Qinling Mountains. The Qinling Mountain pandas are considered a different sub-species from those found in other mountain ranges.
‘It is suspected that the brown and white colouring of pandas has a genetic basis, possible a result of a double recessive gene, a combination of genes or a dilution factor gene. Qi Zai’s mother was black and white.’
Qi Lai - who is also known as ‘seventh son’ by staff at the centre - is the same size and weight and has the same habits as other pandas with the usual black and white fur.
Scientists at the centre say further studies are necessary to unravel the mystery of why the brown and white pandas occur.
The panda population in the Qinling Mountains is small and isolated with an estimated figure of between 200 and 300.
Some experts at the centre have suggested that the brown fur could also have some links with the area’s unique geographical and climatic conditions, saying the soil and water in the area might influence the hair pigments of the pandas.
