The almost-great escape: Panda cub Wen Li makes break for freedom from nursery pen



Testing the boundaries is part of growing up.

So Wn Li the panda club was only doing what comes naturally when she struggled up the side of her playpen to explore.

First one paw appeared, then the other and finally she pulled herself up to the top.



I'm going for it: Wen Li grips the sides of her playpen with her paws as she hoists herself up - while twin sister Ya Li ignores her in the background

This is tougher than it looks: Wen Li gets one paw over the edge

I can taste freedom!: Wen Li gets her other front paw over - and goes for the back foot

Gotcha! Wen Li actually makes it over the edge of her pen - but is quickly collared by her amused handler

Unfortunately, her sense of balance is still a bit wobbly and she toppled over the side, ending up with little more than an upside-down view of the inside of her pen.



The failed attempt did not appear to deter Wen Li, however. She was later spotted in what seems to be her favourite position once more - dangling from the edge of her playpen again.

These images of Wen Li - and her apparently quieter and better-behaved twin sister Ya Li - were taken at the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Institute.

Wen Li and Ya Li were born on July 19, 2009.

Sister Act: The failed escape does not appear to have deterred Wen Li, as she dangles from the edge of the pen once more - and sister Ya Li appears to be trying to get in on the fun

What's in here? The boisterous Wen Li is distracted by the joys of exploring a plastic box

Just four pandas were born at the institute in 2009, compared to 18 babies born in 2008, researchers said.

The reason? Leading researchers believe the mothers at the institute were too 'exhausted' to have any more babies.

The mischievous Wen Li's mother Li Li may have a thing or two to say about that.

Watch me, Mom! Wen Li frolics with her mother, the 'exhausted' Li Li

Greetings to my fans: Wen Li is taken to be bottle fed at the nursery in China