Labahe is one of our favorite places in China to search for wild red pandas. Even so, good encounters are never guaranteed.
On our first day, we managed to spot several red pandas, but only from a distance. They stayed high in the forest canopy and never offered the kind of photographic opportunity we had hoped for. That is often how red panda encounters go—brief glimpses before they quietly disappear back into the forest.
The following morning began much the same way.
Then we received a phone call from a local driver.
He had spotted a red panda feeding in a tree nearby.
We didn’t waste any time and headed straight to the location.
When we arrived, we quickly found the animal.
Then we noticed another.
And then a third.
Seeing a single wild red panda is always a memorable experience. Seeing three together is something altogether different.
For the next two hours, we watched them feeding on clusters of red berries high in the branches before settling down to rest in the same tree. Instead of a brief sighting, we had the rare opportunity to observe their natural behavior without feeling rushed.
For wildlife photographers, those are the moments you hope for. There was time to experiment with different compositions, wait for better light and simply enjoy watching the animals rather than worrying that the encounter might be over in seconds.
Eventually, the red pandas settled down for a rest, and we decided it was the perfect moment to leave them in peace.
Labahe has rewarded us with many memorable red panda encounters over the years, but watching three wild red pandas share the same tree for nearly two hours remains one of the most extraordinary.
Some wildlife moments last only a few seconds.
Others stay with you for a lifetime.