Panda fossil discovered in Guizhou's Yanhe county

The postcranial skeleton of the giant panda was discovered in a cave. [Photo/colorful Guizhou network]

The Guizhou Mountain Resources Institute and Guizhou Caves Association recently conducted a systematic investigation into a fossil and its host karst cave in Yanhe county, with on-site identification by researchers confirming that the fossil belongs to a giant panda.

Detailed examination revealed a complete postcranial skeleton, including vertebrae, ribs, and limb bones, indicating an intact individual. Based on weathering patterns, the panda is estimated to have lived tens of thousands of years ago, with severe tooth wear and dental caries suggesting it was an elderly animal.

Analysis of cave structure and fossil deposition indicates the panda was likely swept deep into the cave by floodwaters or other external forces during the rainy season. After plunging into a pool through a vertical shaft, it crawled into a small side passage in the darkness, where it ultimately died. Its skeleton remained largely undisturbed at the site until discovery.

This marks the first documented discovery of a cave panda fossil in Yanhe county. The specimen provides invaluable material for studying the historical distribution of pandas, their population evolution, and their regional extinction patterns, holding significant scientific importance.