The State Forestry Administration announced on Thursday China has more than 1,750 giant pandas, including at least 1,590 in the wild -- a sharp rise from 1,110 reported in 1988, and 161 raised in captivity.

This is the first time for the Chinese government to announce its panda population over the past 15 years, and the data came from a recent inventory of the endangered species carried out in its major habitats, including the western provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu.

As the most endangered species in the world, pandas prefer living alone in high mountains and deep valleys, posing a great difficulty for the study of the rare species.

The inventory, which started in 1999 and used satellite monitoring technologies to track giant pandas' whereabouts, was the third ever conducted in China and the former two were carried out in the 1970s and 1980s respectively.

"The number of pandas living in the wild has climbed to 1590, from 1,110 reported in 1988," said Zhao Xuemin, deputy director of the administration. "Besides, the figure is exclusive of baby pandas under 18 months old."

Of the 161 pandas raised in captivity, some 70 percent were artificially bred, given their low productivity, a genetic problem that had been plaguing scientists aiming to protect the species from extinction, Zhao said.

He said China had seen rises in its giant panda population and betterment of their living conditions since the country launched a project in the early 1990s to preserve the species and their habitats.

To date, China has founded 27 giant panda reserves and moved to protect 32 counties that are proven habitats of the rare species. At least 95 percent of giant pandas in the wild are now under protection.

On the other hand, Chinese scientists have worked out state-of-the-art artificial fertilization technologies to improve the birthrate of giant pandas bred in captivity. At least 90 percent of the artificially bred baby pandas have survived.

Giant pandas are believed to have been around during the time of the dinosaurs. The rare creatures topped China's list for rare animals under special protection in 1962 and have been regarded as "state treasures" by the Chinese people ever since.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2004)