This is the moment a clever giant panda does a handstand so he can urinate higher up a tree – and fool other male giant pandas into thinking he is a bigger rival than he really is.

The CCTV footage of the tricky bear was recorded at Laohegou Nature Reserve, in Pingwu County, in the Chinese province of Sichuan, on 1st January.

In the video, the panda can be seen performing the difficult handstand with his hind legs resting against the tree while urinating.

According to staff at the reserve, male pandas urinate as high as they can against trees during mating season in order to attract a partner.

The male pandas that reach the highest point on a tree apparently have the best chance of attracting a female giant panda.

As well as indicating that the panda that can urinate the highest up the tree is the biggest and most virile, it also increases the chances of more females scenting, allegedly making it clear to them which panda is the strongest potential partner.

Laohegou Nature Reserve’s deputy director, Liao Jun, told local media: “The video shows a panda urinating on a tree, which is equivalent to marking its territory.

“Each year, when it comes to oestrus, he will mark these trees and leave his smell. It attracts female pandas to come to the spot.”

Oestrus is the state when female mammals are ready to accept a male and conceive.

Jun added that the height trick could give the sneaky panda a big advantage, as there is a lot of competition. He said: “Since we have obtained the data, more pandas have been photographed urinating about 50 times at this location.”