Panda-Monium Read Free

the big old log where Bindi had spotted the panda poo the previous day, she stopped and peered into the bushes. But this time there was nothing to be seen.
    â€˜That’s strange,’ she said. ‘It’s not there anymore.’ She examined the spot where she had made that first find. ‘Hey guys, look at this!’
    The others gathered around.
    â€˜Someone has shovelled it all up. Look!’
    Bindi was right. The ground had been disturbed in a way that suggested someone had used a spade there.
    After that everyone searched the area, looking for the droppings they’d found the day before. All of them had vanished.
    Finally, Chandra slumped down onto a rock. ‘How very strange!’
    Bindi sat next to him, thinking hard. ‘I think it was those guys we passed on the trail,’ she said. ‘The ones carrying bamboo buckets.’
    â€˜You might be right,’ Chandra replied. ‘Whoever it was, it appears they’ve been up here trying to remove evidence of all of the pandas.’
    â€˜ Some of the pandas.’ Wangchuk’s smile had returned.
    Bindi, Vicki and Chandra all looked at the boy at once. ‘Do you know where there might be more?’ Bindi asked.
    â€˜Follow me,’ was all Wangchuk said before heading off even deeper into the forest.
    He moved like lightning, and seemed to know every stone and every tree. Even Chandra had trouble keeping up.
    At last he stopped above a long rock ledge. ‘Now, we wait.’
    Hidden by the ledge, they had a surprisingly good view. Bindi could see bamboo thickets everywhere, and the forest cover here was particularly dense.
    Everyone was quiet. But it wasn’t long before Wangchuk was tugging on Bindi’s sleeve. Bindi peered in the direction he was pointing. Sure enough, there was a beautiful russet-backed red panda stretched out in a tree, its legs and tail dangling.
    â€˜That’s Jangmu,’ Wangchuk whispered. He scoured the trees for a little while longer. ‘And there’s Ang. He’s Jangmu’s son.’ He pointed out another red panda, which ambled out from the under- growth to nibble on some new bamboo shoots.
    Vicki and Chandra quickly pulled out their cameras and began to take photos.
    â€˜Did you name the pandas?’ Bindi whispered to her friend.
    Wangchuk nodded, his eyes glued to the trees up ahead.
    Bindi was helping Vicki take a GPS reading of their location when Wangchuk tugged on her sleeve once more.
    Again she looked where he was pointing. A young red panda high in a tree was scrabbling along a branch with amazing courage. Nothing seemed to deter her. As the branch tapered she became like a tightrope walker, teetering along, one step after the other. Finally, she reached her goal – a large clump of berries, which she pulled into her mouth with her paw.
    Vicki and Chandra began to take photos.
    â€˜Who’s that?’ Bindi whispered.
    â€˜I don’t know,’ Wangchuk hissed back. ‘She’s a new one.’
    The panda stopped what she was doing and looked up. Bindi felt sure the animal had spotted them. But the panda didn’t try to get away. In fact, she seemed unfrightened. After a moment, she went back to her meal.
    Wangchuk was silent for a moment before turning to Bindi, laughter in his eyes. ‘I have the perfect name for her!’ he whispered.
    â€˜What? What have you named her?’ Bindi whispered so loudly the little red panda stopped again and, showing no fear, looked up inquisitively.
    Wangchuk giggled. ‘Her name is Little Bindi!’

‘Tomorrow we should all go to talk to the committee. And while we’re there we should ask them if they know anything about the panda poo thieves.’
    Bindi was sitting with her friends on the teahouse verandah. They’d just finished lunch and were discussing what to do next.
    â€˜No one on the committee speaks English,’ Chandra said, ‘and children never attend