Nature’s not always black and white

London - When it comes to pandas, you probably thought things were strictly black and white.

But meet Qi Zai, an extremely rare brown and white panda whose unusual appearance has left scientists scratching their heads.

There have only been seven sightings of brown and white pandas since 1985, all of which have been in China’s Qinling Mountains, where Qi Zai was found weak and alone as a two-month-old cub.

Researchers suspect the five-year-old’s distinctive colouring is the result of a rare combination of genes – however the real explanation may be a little more down to earth.

Some experts at the Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue, Breeding and Research Centre, where Qi Zai lives, have suggested his brown fur may be linked to the area’s unique geographical and climatic conditions. They say the soil and water in the area might influence the hair pigments of the pandas, who are identical to black and white pandas in size and habit.

American vet Katherine Feng of the International League of Conservation Photographers, who took the photographs of Qi Zai, said: “Brown and white pandas have only been seen in the Qinling Mountains. The Qinling Mountain pandas are considered a different sub-species from those found in other mountain ranges.

“It is suspected that the brown and white colouring of pandas has a genetic basis, possibly a result of a double recessive gene, a combination of genes or a dilution factor gene. Qi Zai’s mother was black and white.”

Researchers believe that further study is needed to confirm the cause.

Daily Mail

• How panda faked pregnancy

• Amorous panda breaks mating record

• The giant panda and his underactive thyroid