A giant panda can seriously injure a person. It is a large, powerful bear with strong jaws, teeth, and claws. Although pandas are often calm and spend much of their time eating bamboo or resting, their public image should never be mistaken for a guarantee of safety.
Are pandas dangerous to people?
They can be. The Smithsonian states that adult giant pandas are very strong and potentially dangerous, which is why animal-care staff do not enter their enclosures with them.
What should visitors do?
Stay behind barriers, follow staff instructions, and never try to touch, feed, or enter an animal area. A panda looking relaxed is still a wild animal with the ability to defend itself.
Do pandas hunt people?
No. Giant pandas do not seek out people as prey. The safety issue is proximity and stress, not a fantasy of a panda hunting humans.
Learn more
Read can giant pandas be aggressive? or watch them safely through panda live cams and videos.