Zhu Mingsheng, a panda keeper, is playing with Zhenda the panda in a zoo in Dongguan, South China's Guangdong Province. (Photo: VCG)

When asked what the best job in the world is, some people might say panda keeper.
The adorable bear has captured the hearts of millions around the world.
However, the real life of panda keepers might not be as sweet as people imagine. Actually, it is tiring and even dangerous.
In August, Zhenda and Shuang'er, two giant pandas, arrived at the zoo of Dongguan, South China's Guangdong Province, from their home in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. The two "national treasures" live in a five-star home with a big garden, a pool and tons of toys.
Since then, 50-year-old Shi Hanrong has had the responsibility of taking care of the two pandas. Every morning he begins to work at 7 am to prepare nutritious corn buns for the pandas and disinfect all the rooms in the panda house.
Shi's colleagues, Liu Qiao and Zhu Mingsheng, have to clean 200 kilograms of bamboo sprouts and bamboos for the pandas, which are their staple food. The bamboo is airmailed from Sichuan's panda base every two days.
Fruits and nutrients are also provided to the pandas.
Shi said that every time she sees the pandas living a healthy life and the tourists happy, she is satisfied. She used to be a keeper for monkeys and giraffes, and became promoted to panda keeper after several rounds of selections.
Liu said that to become a panda keeper, one should have a sense of responsibility and rich experience in keeping animals. Liu and his colleagues have undergone professional training at the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base in Sichuan.
At breakfast time, Shuang'er comes to the pool and drinks some water, and then begins to eat apples. Afterwards, he sits on the ground to enjoy fresh bamboo sprouts. 
After breakfast, the two pandas stroll around the gym to have some fresh air. Seeing pandas, tourists all take out their phones to share the moment on their social media.
Adorable as they look like, pandas are still dangerous beasts. 
Wei Hua, a 42-year-old former panda keeper, was left with lifelong physical disabilities after he was attacked by a female panda Ximei at the Tiantai Training Center in Wolong, Sichuan in December 2016. The extent of his injuries was horrific: two broken wrists, torn foot tendons, multiple bites and gashes and part of his left hand missing.
Pandas, also known as giant pandas, are native to China and one of the most endangered animal species in the world. About 1,600 pandas live in the wild.
The population of captive giant pandas has reached 520 worldwide, according to the China giant panda breeding technology committee at its annual conference Tuesday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.