Panda has operation on his teeth

A giant panda has become the first ever bear of his species to have a complicated operation on his teeth.

Keepers noticed that Xiaopingping, 17, was finding it hard to chew his favourite meal of bamboo shoots, so dentists fixed the problem.

The aged rare bear had a two hour operation to put fillings in three teeth which have been damaged with age.

The operation appears to have been so successful that two other pandas have been lined up for the treatment.

See more pics of bears in the wild

The bears all live together at the Chengdu Panda Base with more than 40 other giant pandas.