Quirky China: panda won’t return phone, talented piglet spared from dinner, affordable gold rush

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Fran LuFebruary 28, 2026 at 07:00 AM

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At the Dujiangyan Panda Base in Sichuan province, China, a panda named Qingling grabbed a visitor's mobile phone that was accidentally dropped into his enclosure on February 22. The three-year-old panda treated the phone like a toy, even appearing to take a selfie with it. Zoo staff attempted to retrieve the phone using carrots and an extension grabber, but Qingling stubbornly refused to relinquish it. The incident led online observers to jokingly label the panda a "smartphone addict." The phone remained in the panda's possession despite the staff's efforts.