Zookeeper Uses The Heimlich Maneuver To Save Giant Panda Choking On Carrot

Zookeeper Uses The Heimlich Maneuver To Save Giant Panda Choking On Carrot

A giant panda living in southwest china was saved from a painful death thanks to a zookeeper named Yang.

The giant panda, Qingqing (also known as Man Yuemei), was born in 2015 at the at the Bifengxia Panda Base in Sichuan before being transferred in 2016 to the Dujiangyan Giant Panda base.

Once at the Dujiangyan base, Qingqing came under the care of a zookeeper named Yang, who she formed a close bond with. Yang looked out for her, but he took things a step further by saving her life.

A video that was posted on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) by user 340455475 shows Qingqing as she begins to choke on a carrot that she was enjoying as a snack.

Yang quicky leaps into action and begins pounding on her back before moving into the full Heimlich maneuver. You wouldn't think performing such a maneuver would be easy on a massive panda bear, but Yang makes it look easy. Miraculously, it worked and the carrot was successfully dislodged from Qingqing's throat!

"The giant panda got a carrot stuck while eating, the breeder rescued it with the Heimlich method," the video's caption explained (translated).

You can watch the video on Douyin here.

Naturally, since being shared, both Qingqing and Yang have received a lot of attention.

If you'd like to see more, the Dujiangyan Giant Panda base runs iPanda where you can watch the resident giant panda bears on live cameras! There's even a camera dedicated solely to Qingqing that you can check out here.

Beyond the cameras, they put our social media videos that feature various pandas, including Qingqing. In one sweet compilation video, you can see several clips of her living her best life alongside her caretaker, Yang. She even enjoys some carrots - but safely, this time. Check out the video below:

Malorie Thompson

Malorie works as a writer and editor in Northern California. She's passionate about food, conscious living, animal welfare, and conservation. She's worked with a variety of publications in different sectors but is happiest covering topics close to her heart. When not at her laptop, Malorie can be found enjoying picnics on the beach, hiking in the redwoods, and spending time with her rescue pup, Jax.

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