[One Thousand Characters a Day] Our Future Learned from Pandas <1>

Editor's NoteWhy do people like Pubao so much? How much do we really know about pandas, represented by Pubao? This book reveals the charm of pandas through scientific logic and plausible reasoning. Pandas have survived by evolving through the harsh changes in Earth's environment. Despite being carnivores by classification, they chose a 'herbivorous' diet, distinguish each other with 'black patterns like sunglasses and vests' to compete for food, and as a result, developed 'round faces and gentle temperaments.' Along with these ecological traits, this book explores the relationship between humans and pandas, their impact on world history, the value of biodiversity, and concludes with the '7 Panda Spirits.' It encourages reflection on individual lives as well as a sustainable world. The story that begins with this special animal fills readers with scientific knowledge and culture, and offers warm motivation to 'live cutely like a panda' in tough and tiring daily life. Word count: 1030.

People say pandas are lazy animals. It’s understandable since pandas generally appear slow in their movements. It’s rare to see them climbing trees nimbly or running quickly on the ground. Moreover, they spend much of their day eating. Even videos of pandas in zoos show many eating scenes. As pandas mainly eat plants, they don’t struggle to hunt prey. They don’t climb high places with great effort to eat their favorite tree fruits. Unlike other herbivores, they don’t have to run or hide desperately to avoid predators. They simply amble around, eat, and eat again throughout the day. After finishing their food, pandas usually sleep. Therefore, a panda’s life can be summarized as eating and sleeping. It’s no wonder people call them lazy.

On closer look, some media outlets seem to enjoy calling pandas lazy. They prefer to portray the round, peaceful-looking pandas as animals living without much hardship rather than revealing how tough their lives really are. Sometimes, the narrative goes that because pandas are so lazy and do so little, surviving in the harsh wild is difficult. The story then shifts to the idea that lazy pandas might fall behind in survival competition and disappear, so humans must step in to protect them. But are pandas really lazy? That statement may actually be quite misleading.

It is true that pandas spend most of their lives eating and sleeping. If we call a person lazy for doing nothing but eating and sleeping, then we might say the same about pandas. Certainly, pandas don’t go to work early to write daily reports or work overnight to meet urgent customer orders. Compared to the average Korean lifestyle, pandas may indeed seem lazy. However, the statement that pandas only eat and sleep hides facts we don’t know.

－Gwak Jaesik, Panda Spirit, Saenggakjeongwon, 18,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.