Number of captive pandas increases to 600 globally
A giant panda is photographed at Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, May 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)
A total of 60 captive panda cubs were born, 57 of which survived this year, leading to a captive panda population of 600 worldwide, China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration said Tuesday.
The administration made public the figure at a meeting featuring the giant panda breeding, technology and research, kicked off Tuesday in the city of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.
A giant panda is photographed at Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, May 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)
The rising number of captive pandas showed that a healthy, dynamic and sustainable captive panda population has basically taken shape, according to the administration, adding research on wild giant pandas is also making progress.
Meanwhile, research and breeding institutions for giant pandas, including the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, are further promoting technology and innovation of panda breeding, and building key laboratories for endangered wildlife conservation, as well as establishing research partnerships with international organizations.
Giant pandas play at Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, May 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)
Zhang Zhihe, director of the panda research base, said the base would be expanded and continue to focus on the improvement of scientific panda research and protection.
There are fewer than 2,000 pandas living in the wild, mostly in the provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi.
Giant pandas are photographed at Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, May 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)
Giant pandas are photographed at Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, May 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)
Giant pandas are photographed at Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, May 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)
A giant panda is photographed at Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, May 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)