熊猫的世界原来不只是黑与白

When it comes to pandas, you probably thought things were strictly black and white.

一提到大熊猫，你可能会以为只有黑色和白色。

But meet Qi Zai, an extremely rare brown and white panda whose colourful appearance has left scientists scratching their heads.

但看看七仔，它是一只极其罕见的棕白色相间的大熊猫，它彩色的外表使科学家也摸不着头脑。

While every bit as a cute as others of his species, he is a very special bear because there have only been five sightings of brown-white pandas since 1985.

虽然与其他大熊猫相比它的可爱程度不减，但它很特殊，因为自从1985年以来只发现了5只棕白相间的大熊猫。

Now aged five, he was found as a two-month-old cub, weak and alone, by researchers in a nature reserve in Qinling Mountains in China after his mother had apparently disappeared into the jungle.

现在它5岁了。在中国秦岭自然保护区被研究人员发现时，它还只是一只两个月大的幼崽，很虚弱、很孤单，当时它妈妈似乎已经消失在丛林中了。

For his own safety, they took him to the nearby Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue, Breeding and Research Centre where he was given medical treatment and fed on panda milk saved by the centre’s staff from other pandas.

为了它的安全，研究人员把它带到了附近的陕西省珍稀野生动物抢救饲养研究中心，在那儿对它进行药物治疗，用中心的员工从其他熊猫那儿留下的熊猫奶喂养它。

He has since grown into the fine, eye-catching specimen he is today.

此后，它便长成了现如今这健康、引人注目的样子。

These photographs were taken by Katherine Feng, an American vet and member of the International League of Conservation Photographers, who was delivering veterinary supplies to the centre donated by the US charity Pandas International.

这些照片是由凯瑟琳·冯拍摄的，她是一位美国兽医，同时也是国际自然保护摄影师联盟的一员，她正为这个中心运送美国大熊猫国际慈善团体捐赠的兽药。

She was granted special permission to photograph him during the recent visit.

在她最近一次来访期间，获得特许给这只大熊猫拍照。

Qi Zai - who is also known as ‘seventh son’ by staff at the centre - is the same size and weight and has the same habits as other pandas with the usual black and white fur.

七仔（也被这个中心的员工称为“第七个儿子”）和其他常见的黑白相间毛色大熊猫有着相同的大小、体重和习惯。

Scientists at the centre say further studies are necessary to unravel the mystery of why the brown and white pandas occur.

这个中心的科学家说有必要进行深入研究，来解开棕白相间大熊猫的产生之谜。

The panda population in the Qinling Mountains is small and isolated with an estimated figure of between 200 and 300.

秦岭大熊猫数量较少，估计在200只至300只之间。

Some experts at the centre have suggested that the brown fur could also have some links with the area’s unique geographical and climatic conditions, saying the soil and water in the area might influence the hair pigments of the pandas.

这个中心的一些专家表明，棕色皮毛可能也与这个地区独特的地理和气候条件有关，比如说这一地区的土壤和水可能会影响大熊猫的毛色。