Why scientists are dressing up as pandas, moose, and ghosts

Science · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Forget fashion trends; for wildlife researchers, costumes are essential tools. From mimicking predators to masking human scents, scientists use clever disguises and technological trinkets to observe animals in their natural states, gathering vital data that would otherwise remain hidden behind human interference.

In the field of wildlife biology, 'accessorizing' animals often involves the researcher adopting a disguise. To hide their scent, employees at the China Research and Conservation Centre for the Giant Panda don plush costumes and use panda excrement and urine. This technique is used during medical checkups for cubs to minimize stress and prevent the animals from forming unhealthy attachments to humans. This care is vital for a species with a wild population of approximately 1,600, where successful releases, such as the female Xue Xue, are critical milestones.

Other researchers use costumes to manipulate animal behavior or study predator-prey dynamics. In British Columbia, biologist Tom Reimchen used white and black fabric to study 'spirit bears.' His 2009 study in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society found that salmon were less evasive toward white-clad researchers, suggesting that white fur may help bears hunt more effectively by appearing less threatening. Similarly, at the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin, staff use white drapes and bird-shaped puppets to mimic parent cranes, teaching chicks to forage. This method has supported the recovery of whooping cranes from a low of just 20 wild individuals in the 1940s to over 400 today.

Beyond costumes, technology and environmental enrichment play roles in modern research. In Yellowstone, biologists have used moose suits to observe how elk and moose respond to the scent of recolonizing wolves. Meanwhile, in controlled laboratory settings like the Crick, researchers use 'enrichment materials'—such as pebbles in zebrafish tanks or small houses for mice—to mimic natural habitats. These methods, alongside the use of genetically modified mice, rats, and even ferrets to study human-like immune responses, ensure that scientific inquiry can proceed with minimal animal distress.

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