Maimed panda keeper could have disabilities

A 41-year-old panda keeper who was recently severely wounded when he was attacked by a mother panda is being treated at a suburban branch of West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

"It will take many months for Wei Hua's wounds to heal, and he could possibly have permanent disabilities," said Zhang Guiquan, deputy chief of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wenchuan county, Sichuan.

On Dec 14, Xi Mei, a 16-year-old mother panda, and her 1-year-old cub Ba Xi were transferred to a semi-wild area in Tiantaishan where the animals learn skills for surviving in the wild.