Beijing, China (AHN) -- An intoxicated Chinese man followed his urge to touch a Panda at Beijing Zoo, but wounded up biting the animal in self defense after his clumsy attempt was rejected, state media said Wednesday. Zhang Xinyan, from China's central Henan province, jumped into an enclosure that held Gu Gu, the panda, after he drunk four jugs of beer at a nearby restaurant, the Beijing Morning Post said.

"He felt a sudden urge to touch the panda with his hand," and jumped into the enclosure, the newspaper said.

Gu Gu, who was asleep was startled and bit the 35-year-old intruder in his right leg, it said. Zhang got angry at the savage rejection and kicked the Panda, who then bit his other leg.

Zhang there after took the opportunity to bit Gu Gu in its back but "it's skin was quite thick," he was quoted as saying in the newspaper.

The tussle was brought to an end after tourists yelled for a zookeeper, who sprayed water from a hose to rescue Zhang from the panda's clutches, the paper said.

Zhang was rushed to the nearest hospital.

The Beijing Youth Daily quoted Zhang as saying that he had seen pandas on television and "they seemed to get along well with people."

"No one ever said they would bite people," Zhang said. "I just wanted to touch it. I was so dizzy from the beer. I don't remember much."

Ye Mingxia, a spokeswoman for the Beijing Zoo, confirmed the incident and said Gu Gu was "healthy."

"We're not considering punishing him now," Ye told the AP in a telephone interview. "He's suffered quite a bit of shock," she said.

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