Chinese zoo-keepers are advertising for a tutor to teach Chinese to an American-born panda.

A three-year-old giant panda called Mei Lan has been given the red carpet treatment by zookeepers at her new home at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center in Sichuan, who, on top of the language lessons are also looking for help with a special diet and even blind dates.

Huang Xiangming, director of the animal management department explained: "Mei Lan has been living in the United States since she was born, and she must be unfamiliar with Chinese."

The center has set up a website for Mei Lan, detailing the qualifications for a volunteer teacher: a bachelor's degree or higher, no history of infectious disease and good command of both English and Chinese.