CHINA> Regional
Quake-hit panda base to be rebuilt
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-18 19:04
Comments( China Daily Website - Connecting China Connecting the World

Sorry, the page you requested was not found.

Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Chinadaily.com.cn, try visiting the Chinadaily home page

Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US
) PrintMail

CHENGDU -- Rebuilding of the state-level Wolong Nature Reserve, a major panda breeding base ruinously hit by the massive quake in May 2008, is scheduled to start this spring, an official told Xinhua.

Workers hold panda cubs born in 2008 for a group photo at Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province January 21, 2009. [Agencies]

According to Zhang Hemin, head of the administration of the reserve, the bulk of the funds for the reconstruction will come from Hong Kong.

Related readings:
 Quake-hit panda reserve awaits Hong Kong aid
 Giant pandas born in captivity reach 268 in China
 Pandas face tough time this winter
 Hungry giant pandas face tougher winter - official

The reconstruction will primarily benefit wild panda protection, a research institution and infrastructure, Zhang said.

The new reserve includes 25 projects funded by Hong Kong, totaling about 1.3 billion yuan (about US$191 million), and 19 projects funded by the state forestry administration, totaling about 270 million yuan.

The reconstruction also involves spending 100 million yuan for the resettlement of local residents as the original vegetation had been damaged during the quake and the reserve has to choose new habitats.

Wolong reserve, 10 kilometers away from the epicenter, was severely damaged in the quake last year. The quake left one panda dead and another missing.

The reserve had been in operation since 1963 and had 143 wild pandas in the third national panda count in 2000, taking 10 percent of the total across the country. It had 128 captive pandas, taking 60 percent of the world's total.

The new reserve would protect the animal in a more scientific way, Zhang said.

Research institutions and protection facilities will be built, such as the China Panda-protection Research Center, Panda Disease Control Center, and hospitals.

Residents will be transferred to 14 permanent residences as there former residences will be cleared for the planting of bamboo, Zhang said.

The damaged original 4,500 hectare habitat will be closed.

"The reserve will be built to be a first class protection base and research center in the world," he said.

Comments( China Daily Website - Connecting China Connecting the World

Sorry, the page you requested was not found.

Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Chinadaily.com.cn, try visiting the Chinadaily home page

Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US
) PrintMail
Popular in 24 Hours
Popular in 1 Week