🐼10. 18 Panda SE: Why do giant panda mothers lick their cubs?

During the nursing period, people often observe a behavior where the giant panda mother frequently licks her cubs with her tongue. When the cub feels uncomfortable or needs to defecate, the giant panda mother will lick it. Newborn cubs have very little fur and cannot maintain their own body temperature, so their bodies easily lose moisture. By licking, the mother ensures that the cub's body remains moist. When the cub needs to defecate, the mother will lick around its anus to help it defecate. Additionally, the saliva of giant pandas contains many enzymes that have antibacterial and cleansing effects during the licking process.