CHINESE WILDLIFE NEWS

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-10/31/content_3708131.htm

Giant panda's habitat expanding

 

www.chinaview.cn 2005-10-31 16:18:48

 

CHENGDU, Oct. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- The habitat of the critically-endangered

giant panda is expanding in southwest China's Sichuan Province, a local

publicity official said on Monday.

About two weeks ago, a giant panda was seen in Luding county ofTibetan

Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, a spokesman of the prefecture's publicity

department said at a press conference.

Though giant pandas were reported several times in the county since the

early 1990s, they were always seen on the east bank of the Dadu River. The newly

detected animal, however, was the first one seen roaming on the west bank, the

official said.

" Obviously, the habitat of giant pandas is expanding across theriver, " he

said.

Dai Lin, a local farmer, called the county's forestry bureau inmid October,

claiming he had witnessed a giant panda close to his home in Detuo village, west

of the river.

In a subsequent field survey, forestry officials collected samples of

animal's fur and droppings and took photos of the site.Lab work proved the

droppings were left by a giant panda who had dined on cornstalk.

To collect further evidence, the forestry bureau sent two villagers on a

second survey and told them to take photos of the giant panda whenever possible.

The pictures they took have been verified by the provincial wildlife

preservation office, the publicity official said.

Pandas are among the world's most endangered wild animals and are found only

in China. A forestry report released in 2004 says there are 1,590 giant pandas

living in the wild and another 161 are kept in captivity in zoos worldwide.

Wild pandas mainly live in mountainous areas in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu

provinces. Enditem

Wildlife on The Rise in China

 

 

 

2005-10-31 22:16:13 CRIENGLISH.com

 

 

 

http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/2238/2005-10-31/125 (AT) 279505 (DOT) htm

A senior official with the State Forestry Administration says the number of wild

animals and plants in China is on the rise, due to the country's efforts in

protecting their habitats.

 

Head of the administration's wildlife protection department, Zhuo Rongsheng,

made this comment Monday in a press conference in Beijing.

 

The official noted the number of natural reserves in China has topped 1600, some

760 more than in 2001, which helps protect more than 100 endangered species,

including giant pandas and golden monkeys.

 

He added that the number of over half of the wild species in China has been

steadily increasing.