In the rolling deep mountains, the story of the panda mother and her cub is a gentle poem about guardianship and growth.
The newborn wild giant panda cub is tiny and fragile, growing at a worryingly slow pace. To care for this little one, the panda mother stays in the dark cave for a full three weeks, wrapping the cub in her warm body and pouring all her maternal love into it—every soft lick, every patient nursing session is her firmest guardianship over the cub.
Life in the mountains has never been easy. The harsh environment, combined with scarce food, keeps the survival rate of panda cubs extremely low. Yet the panda mother never thinks of giving up; she even develops an astonishing appetite during lactation—after all, only by eating enough fresh bamboo shoots can she convert the nutrients into ample milk to feed the little life in her arms.
When the outside world is safe enough and the time is right, the panda mother finally takes the cub out of the cave. It is the cub's first encounter with the outside world: sunlight filters through bamboo leaves, casting dappled spots of light, and a breeze carries the fresh scent of bamboo as it blows gently. In the afternoon, the little cub curls up in its mother's arms, fast asleep, only to be suddenly woken by a strange sound coming from the forest. It blinks in confusion, not yet understanding what's happening, when a falling leaf gently lands on its body.
The next moment, a gust of wind sweeps more fallen leaves down in a rustling shower—this sudden "rain of leaves" instantly distracts them. Frightened by the noise, the little cub shrinks into its mother's arms, its round body trembling nonstop. This unusual movement jolts the panda mother into alertness. She lifts her head abruptly, her nose twitching rapidly to sniff the surrounding air, her ears standing straight up, and her eyes scanning every swaying bamboo leaf. Only after confirming there is no danger does she lower her head slowly, licking the cub's back gently with her warm tongue, and making soft coos in her throat, as if whispering comfort: "Don't be afraid, Mom is here."
Gradually, the little cub calms down, and the small paws that had been tightly clutching its mother's fur relax. Curious, it pokes its little head out, staring at the fallen leaves spinning on the ground again and again. Then it cautiously stretches out a paw and flicks a golden leaf lightly. When the leaf wobbles, it quickly pulls its paw back in fright. The mother sits quietly beside it, watching its curious yet timid appearance, occasionally touching its little head with her paw, as if encouraging it to explore boldly. Whenever the wind blows through the bamboo leaves and makes a rustling sound, she immediately stops moving, warily glancing in the direction of the sound until she confirms it is safe before relaxing again.
From the careful care in the cave to the cautious guardianship after stepping out of the cave, the panda mother uses her own way to prop up a safe world for her cub. Life in the mountains may be hard, but in this heavy maternal love, the cub is growing up bit by bit, slowly learning to adapt to this world—and that is the most touching growth story in the deep mountains
Panda Mother and Cub in the Deep Mountains: Guardianship and Growth
By DO
