A young university volunteer, Jiao Xiaoxuan, alongside a forest ranger, was privileged enough to witness and record a dramatic face-off between a giant panda and a herd of antelopes. This stunning video showcases a rare moment in the lives of these extraordinary wild creatures, all vying for territory in their shared habitat.

The video was filmed in Huangtongliang Mountain Ridge in Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve in Shaanxi Province on July 21.

A panda, savouring the succulent shoots of Qinling bamboo, inadvertently aroused the alertness of a nearby antelope herd. The antelopes voiced their warning to the unsuspecting intruder. After a tense stand-off, the daring antelopes even initiated a charge towards the giant panda, prompting a hasty retreat from the surprised creature.

Experts explain that such behaviour illustrates the powerful instinct for territory among wild animals. This drive is so intense that when territories are infringed on by others, even if they belong to different species, the rightful residents will issue warnings or launch direct attacks to assert their sovereignty.

Interestingly, the panda and the antelopes, both herbivores, responded differently due to their distinct habits: the panda being solitary, and the antelopes gregarious.

The video was provided by Jiao Xiaoxuan.

近日，在陕西周至国家级自然保护区的黄桶梁山岭，大学生志愿者焦小轩与护林员一同巡护监测时，有幸目睹并用手机记录下了一场大熊猫与羚牛为争夺领地而展开的激烈对峙。
视频中，一只正在享用秦岭箭竹的大熊猫，引起了一群羚牛的警觉。羚牛发出声音警告大熊猫，短暂的僵持后，羚牛甚至主动向大熊猫发起了冲锋。面对羚牛群的威胁，这只大熊猫选择了迅速撤退。
专家解释，野生动物的领地意识非常强烈，一旦领地被同类或生态位相近的动物侵犯，领地的主人通常会发出警告声或直接攻击，以此宣示自己的主权。大熊猫和羚牛，虽然都是植食性动物，但由于生活习性的不同：大熊猫是独居动物，羚牛是群居动物。所以在面对领地争夺时，它们的行为也表现出差异。
这段视频不仅揭示了野生动物保护领地的自然本能，也是保护区生态环境的一个缩影，近年来，羚牛、大熊猫、金钱豹、林麝等野生动物频繁出现，标志着周至保护区的生物多样性增强、自然环境正在逐渐恢复其原有的活力。（视频由焦小轩提供）