Imprinting is a term that describes how many animals decide ‘who they are’. It is a critical behavioral process in a growing animal and occurs during a period in which the young establish the concept of “parent” and “self”. Taking place early in life, it is an irreversible process.
Under normal circumstances, imprinting establishes a strong bond between the young and their parents. Under less ideal circumstances, imprinting causes a young animal to recognize itself as human when raised inappropriately. Once that damage has been done, the likelihood of being able to release such an animal back to the wild is low and suitable options in captivity are rare and less than ideal.
In China this is their solution to not imprint on the rasing of pandas they hope to one day release back into the wild.