WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- The Smithsonian National Zoo's smallest giant panda bear is in training.
WUSA9 was invited to go behind the scenes.
Training is important, eventually for veterinarians to be able to handle the bear during exams for drawing blood, dental and vision work.
Food is essential in training, so is touch and attention for relationship building.
Panda Keeper Laurie Thompson uses a tennis ball for Bei Bei to touch with his nose. It's target practice. Pandas normally touch with their nose first.
But the 9-month-old toddler cub is not always on point.
"That's not what I asked, he's just starting to climb the mesh. He's got a baby brain, he still gets distracted with climbing or anything else that's going on," said Thompson.
It's only his sixth day of training, minutes at a time, then it's time to play outside.
WUSA9 has been with Bei Bei for important milestones: eating solids, climbing his first tree and getting stuck while Mei helps him down at 5 months old.
At 45 pounds, Bei Bei's diet consists of carrots, apples, bamboo and cooked sweet potato, which has served well in his training more so than for his older sister Bao Bao.
When play time is over, Thompson tries to take every opportunity to go into training.
Pandas are natural climbers and become experts at falling to the delight and dismay of the panda obsessed.
Father Tian Tian is always close but separated from the others.
Bei Bei loves eating apples, ironically he must stay away from honey, just like in humans babies for fear of disease. At 9 months old, Bei Bei will be at the zoo to stay for a while until he is returned to China when he turns four.
Giant Pandas are endangers and on the Red List of Threatened Species in the World Conservation Union. There are roughly 1,800 left in the wild and 400 in captivity.
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