At 7:30 AM, zookeeper Michael Torres, 32, carried buckets of bamboo shoots and fresh fruit toward the panda enclosure at Green Valley Zoo in Oregon. It was a ritual he had performed hundreds of times before. His favorite animal — Bai Yun, a seven-year-old male panda adored by both staff and visitors — had always been calm, playful, and affectionate.

Colleagues say Torres spoke to the panda softly each morning, sometimes humming while placing the bamboo neatly by the rocks. To outsiders, it looked like a friendship — a man and his gentle giant.

But this morning, something went terribly wrong.

The Sudden Attack

At 7:30 a.m., zookeeper Michael Torres, 32, began his usual morning routine at Oregon’s Green Valley Zoo, carrying buckets of bamboo for Bai Yun, a seven-year-old panda known for his gentle nature. But within minutes, routine turned to tragedy. Witnesses say Bai Yun suddenly became agitated and lunged at Torres without warning. Alarms blared as staff rushed to intervene, but despite quick emergency response, Torres succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Green Valley Zoo released a statement confirming the tragedy:

Zoo officials released a statement mourning a “devoted caretaker who brought joy to both animals and visitors.” Bai Yun, now isolated, is being observed by specialists investigating stress or illness as possible triggers.

Torres had spent nearly a decade at the zoo, known for his deep bond with pandas and his dream of supporting conservation efforts. The shocking attack left staff and visitors devastated, with flowers and notes soon filling the zoo gates. Experts remind the public that even seemingly docile animals can act unpredictably under stress. As the investigation continues, Green Valley Zoo vows to honor Torres’ legacy of compassion and care.

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