Editor's Note: To commemorate and honor the outstanding contributions of Hu Jinchu, a renowned professor at China West Normal University and known as the "Father of China's Giant Pandas," to the panda conservation cause, we are launching a series of stories that offer readers insight into the lesser-known chapters of his life. The series aims to promote a deeper awareness of panda conservation and foster a greater harmony between humanity and nature.

Hu Jinchu (The first one on the right) Conducting a Field Investigation

To better track the elusive footprints of the giant panda, Hu Jinchu once ventured alone into the dense forests of Motian Ridge in the Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, Sichuan province.

As he made his way through the mountainous woods, the mist and thick forest seemed to come alive, quietly separating Hu from his team. Suddenly, a heavy snowfall began, transforming the world into a silver-white landscape, obscuring all paths and tracks. By evening, there was still no word from Hu Jinchu. In desperation, a search and rescue team, composed of anxious militiamen and team members, launched a race against time amidst the snowstorm.

As he made his way through the mountainous woods, the mist and dense forest seemed to take on a life of their own, quietly separating Hu from his team. Suddenly, a heavy snowfall began, transforming the world into a silver-white landscape, obscuring all paths and tracks. By evening, there was still no word from Hu Jinchu. In desperation, a search and rescue team, composed of anxious militiamen and team members, launched a race against time amidst the snowstorm.

For more than ten hours, they tried various search methods but found no trace of him, and hope was gradually fading away. Just when despair began to set in, a faint gunshot broke the eerie silence of the mountain forest—it was a distress signal from Hu Jinchu, fired in the last moments before his strength was completely exhausted. The sound guided the rescue team through the snow, and they eventually found the nearly unconscious Professor Hu lying in the snow. He looked like a "snowman" buried under the snow, yet he still held on to his passion and dedication to the giant pandas.

This harrowing experience not only served as a testament to Professor Hu's courage and determination but also left a profound impact on everyone involved in the rescue, continuing to inspire their ongoing dedication to panda conservation.(By Wang Lu)