Researchers have observed captive giant pandas using twigs and bamboo pieces to scratch hard-to-reach areas on their bodies. This marks the first recorded instance of tool use in these animals. The behavior highlights an evolutionary adaptation unique to pandas.
Scientists at the Shaanxi Institute of Zoology in China have documented giant pandas employing simple tools for grooming. Bin Yang and his team recorded 383 instances of this behavior over 50 days, observing 18 captive pandas, both males and females, in a zoo setting.
The pandas broke off twigs or pieces of bamboo from trees and used them primarily to scratch parts of their bodies that are difficult to reach without assistance. This tool use was noted during routine observations, prompting a dedicated study to explore the phenomenon further.
"Because pandas spend a lot of time eating and resting, they give the impression of being lazy, fond of food and cute," Yang explained. "So, when we discovered that pandas can use tools, it changed our previous perspective about them."
Unlike other bears, giant pandas possess a 'false thumb'—a short sixth digit on their paws that functions like a crude opposable thumb, enabling them to grasp objects more effectively. This adaptation, combined with their relatively large brains, may facilitate such behaviors. The researchers suggest that breaking off sticks specifically for use indicates short-term planning capabilities.
"Pandas might have more complex cognition and behaviours than previously thought," Yang said. However, additional research is required to determine if pandas can be directed to use tools intentionally.
The zoo's naturalistic outdoor environment implies that wild pandas might exhibit similar tool use, though no such observations have been reported yet. Prior to this, only an anecdotal account existed of pandas rubbing dirt into their fur. The findings appear in Current Biology (DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.09.003).