Foping County in Shaanxi Province, a home to China's treasured giant panda, has become a paradise for wild animals thanks to the local government's efforts at environmental protection, and anti-logging and afforestation steps.

With a population of as much as 40,000, Foping is located on the north slope of the Qinling Mountains. It has a forest area of 1.7 million mu (113,000 ha).

The forests of the county teem with takin deer, golden monkeys and golden pheasants.

In 1998, the county closed 90 percent of the local wood processing plants to make more living space for wildlife, said a local official.

The area has become home to more and more wild animals in recent years, the official said. In the valleys, there is even a chance of seeing more than 50 golden monkeys or takins running together, he said.

According to the official, there are 433 species of vertebrates, of which 65 are under the state-level protection, inhabiting the reserve.

The number of takins has increased from several hundred only a few years ago to more than 2,000 now, he said. The latest survey showed that the number of rare bird species, including mandarin ducks and golden eagles, here is over 300.

(Eastday.com.cn 07/07/2001)