China's Pampered Pandas

Pity poor Xiang Xiang. Pampered from birth, his every need anticipated by a loyal band of caregivers at Sichuan's Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Center, the baffled bear received the shock of his young life soon after his fourth birthday. Last April 28, he was driven into the middle of thick bamboo forest and abandoned, making him the first giant panda bred in captivity to be released by Chinese scientists into the wild.

Although he had received some survival training, Xiang Xiang soon found he had been dropped off in a very rough neighborhood. In late December, forest wardens...