American pandas experience culture shock on return to China

Twin giant pandas who returned to China are experiencing a language barrier working with their new trainers.

Mei Lun and Mei Huan are also adjusting to their new diet, which does not include their favorite American crackers, according to the People's Daily, a state-run Chinese newspaper.

They were sent to China with 375 pounds of bamboo and 25 pounds of their favorite crackers to help with the transition, according to CNN.

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The pandas were born and raised at Zoo Atlanta until they were mature enough to be returned to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding as part of a loan agreement.

Mei Lun is very lively and often jumps on the roof and hangs upside down. Mei Hun is much calmer, sitting and watching, according to the Chinese media.

They understand when trainers call their names however, they do not know other commands in the Sichuan dialect.

"Language is not the only means their care staff have of communicating with them," Rachel Davis, spokeswoman at Zoo Atlanta, told CNN. "There are also a number of hand signals, learned through positive reinforcement training while here in the U.S., which are universal to both their U.S. and their Chinese care teams and don't rely on language."

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