China has succeeded in artificially breeding more than 100
endangered giant pandas since the first such bred cub was born in
1963 in Beijing Zoo, according to the latest report from China's
State Forestry Administration.
Both Yang Yang and Long Hui, two agile cubs that will leave their
home in southwest China's Sichuan
Province on Thursday for Vienna on a 10-year loan, were
conceived through artificial insemination -- two of 100 such bred
pandas in the country.
By
2002, the artificially bred baby panda's chance for survival in
Sichuan had improved from less than 30 percent to 90 percent,
according to Zhang Guiquan, vice-director of the China Giant Panda
Protection Center.
Last year, Chinese scientists succeeded in cloning the giant
panda's reproductive hormone gene, which they hope will improve the
animal's ability to breed in captivity.
In
addition to improving the panda's reproductive rate, scientists
have put in place aggressive programs to protect those living in
the wild.
About 1,000 of the rare species live in Sichuan, northwest China's
Shaanxi
and Gansu
provinces, where more than 40 reserves have been established.
In
Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu, the area of nature reserves totals
16,200 square kilometers, said Zhang.
Meanwhile, the government's efforts on environmental protection
have paid off with an increase in pandas' habitats.
Nearly 20 corridors were built to connect isolated reserves by
artificial forests and help pandas living in different areas
communicate with each other so as to increase breeding
opportunities.
Legal moves to protect the giant panda were first made in 1957 and
poaching and destruction of their habitats are illegal in
China.
The giant panda protection center has created a semi-wild condition
for giant pandas in captivity to live and prepare to return to the
wild, said Zhang.
(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2003)