Get paid to cuddle pandas in China

Pandas may look playful, but in captivity they often prefer solitude. That’s why China’s Chengdu Research Base hires professional panda cuddlers—humans who provide warmth, play, and care.

By: Lifestyle Desk

New Delhi | Updated: October 12, 2025 07:42 AM IST

3 min read

China hires human cuddlers for pandas. (Source: Freepik)

Pandas are undoubtedly adorable. Whether eating grass or rolling on the ground, they will help us break the monotony in the most fascinating way possible. Strangely, unlike in the wild, they are not very friendly among their peers when living in captivity, where there is minimal scope for stimulation. And often they are found in a solitary retreat. That is precisely why they need to be shown some love and care.

Take, for instance, the case of China, where a research centre exclusively hires humans to cuddle pandas.

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan delves deeper into pandas’ behavioural patterns and has human cuddlers to keep them cheerful. There is a formal process for hiring these panda cuddlers. For example, the applicants can’t be more than 22 years old. They should have good writing and photography skills and, most importantly, be familiar with the panda habitat.

Why human caretakers?

Because they sense a feeling of belongingness with them. Human cuddles remind them of their mothers’ warmth, who are famously affectionate with baby pandas. Most importantly, the relationship is based on food and sustenance. Pandas rely on humans not just for cuddles, warmth and love, but also for food. On the other hand, human caregivers happily apply for this job because of pandas’ neotenic traits, like big eyes or a childlike appearance.

And what are you supposed to do as a human cuddler?

Start by giving the pandas a fuzzy hug. Make them feel at home. Let them acknowledge your presence. And once they do, cuddle with them, hold their hands, take them for a walk, click a photo or two, and make sure they are active and alert.

How much do you earn as a human cuddler?

This year-round job helps human cuddlers earn up to USD 32,000 (INR 28,19,856 approximately) and has perks like accommodation, food, and even transportation.

So, if you have a thing for pandas, stay prepared for this fun and slightly hectic job requiring you to spend hours caring for pandas.

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The unique service is a part of conservation efforts in China aiming to protect this vulnerable species and contribute to its regrowth. The panda population is declining, amid growing cases of forest fragmentation, poaching, and habitat destruction. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), “There are some 1,600 giant pandas in the wild, but the population is being threatened by habitat loss and deforestation.”

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And that’s why multiple efforts have been made to save the adorable animal, including this cuddle volunteer program. This one-of-a-kind volunteer experience is both emotionally and culturally stimulating.

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