Guy Wins $83K Over Panda Bite

Pandas may prefer their meals in the form of bamboo, but that doesn't mean their bite is toothless. A man in China recently received a harsh reminder of that after a wild panda bit his leg after authorities pursued the critter onto his lawn, reports AFP via Yahoo. The creature had made its way into a northwestern village, which is near a sanctuary that's home to about 100 wild pandas. "I saw a panda jump out in front of me, its body completely covered in mud," the man told local news.

A struggle ensued, in which the bear wouldn't release the man's leg until a rescuer wrapped a coat around the animal's head. Finally, it fled—but not before causing injuries which, China Daily reports, led to eight surgeries over the past year and may lead to amputation. The man sued three government departments and won an $83,000 payout that will cover his medical costs, his lawyer says. (China Daily has a pretty gruesome photo of the injury.) "As cuddly as they may look, a panda can protect itself as well as most other bears," the World Wildlife Fund notes, per AFP. Indeed, panda attacks have led to some nasty consequences in the past. (More China stories.)