The mother held her baby in her front paws much the way a human does. When it cried, she rocked it back and forth and gave it little comforting pats. The mother continued to care for the young bear forover two years. By that time, the panda no However, it stayed with her and learned about the ways of the forest. Then, after two and a half years, the mother chased the young bear away. It was time for her to have a new baby, and it was time for the young panda to be independent.