Beijing: A rare brown baby giant panda has been discovered by researchers in northwest China.
The two-month old baby has brown fur where usual pandas sport black. The cub still hasn't opened its eyes nor walked, said experts with Foping Giant Panda Reserve in Shaanxi province.
The baby's mother has normal colour, said Liang Qihui. The brown panda is the fifth to be recorded in China, Xinhuanet reported on Wednesday.
Scientists are still not sure why some pandas have brown fur. The first brown giant panda Dandan was also found in Foping in 1985.
Dandan was sick when discovered and was taken to the Panda Study Centre. She later gave birth to three giant pandas, but all died young.
The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species and is found only in China.
IANS
First Published: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 09:23