This is the moment a panda cub nicknamed the “blackest on the internet” is seen sprawled across a tree branch with its fur so caked in mud that its trademark black-and-white markings are almost completely unrecognisable.
The footage was recorded at the Shenshuping Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan Province, China, and emerged online on 23rd February.
Video shows the young panda lying along a tree branch, its body appearing almost entirely dark after its white fur became heavily stained.
Its face, usually sharply contrasted in black and white, looks nearly monochrome beneath the layer of mud.
The male cub, named Su Jin Zai, was born on 28th June 2025 to mother Su Jin at the Wolong Shenshuping Base.
The China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda said the dramatic colour change was not the result of a genetic mutation. According to the centre, several recent snowfalls left the outdoor enclosure wet, and the cub, known for repeatedly rolling on the ground, picked up large amounts of mud from the damp soil.
Online users mocked the cub’s soot-darkened appearance, with comments quoted as: “Ban the panda from cosplaying a black bear” and “Has the little panda been mining coal?”
The research centre said giant pandas have a natural layer of oil on their skin that protects them against cold and moisture and acts as a thermal barrier.
It said washing them with water would damage this protective layer and could lead to colds or skin problems.
Instead, staff carried out surface cleaning by wiping the cub, the centre said, adding that pandas in captivity are typically provided with pools so they can clean themselves.
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