Male pandas in China have been put on a strict 'sexercise' regime in order to ensure they are up for the job of mating.

Keepers at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding are encouraging young males to walk on two legs in order to strengthen their pelvic and hip area by coaxing them with apples.

Yang Kuixing, chief of the 12 keepers in the maternity ward, told China Daily: "We use apples to lure male pandas to stand up and walk for a while in a standing position to increase the strength of their hips so that they are more powerful while mating with female pandas."

Colleague Fei Lisong, who is deputy chief of the base, added that the keepers were also exposing "inexperienced" pandas to the tactics of some old-handers.

"We arrange love-making between two excellent pandas in front of inexperienced pandas, which have never had sex. It does work."

Subscribe to Scarlet Magazine

Want to advertise in Scarlet, Harlot or this website? Click here and download our media pack which has all the information you need.

Scarlet Media Pack 2008