Experts begin picking pandas for Taiwan
By Huang Zhiling (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-10 05:34

He was happy that the panel consisted of experts from different fields. "Because pandas have diverse personality traits like human beings, I am afraid I alone cannot choose the pandas meeting the requirements of being healthy, lively and lovely," he said.

Many members of the panel agreed that the pandas should be healthy first in terms of psychology and behaviour. "Pandas in captivity, which have long been confined to a limited space, might have abnormal behaviour," said Wang Pengyan, a senior panda expert from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda.

Zhang Hemin shared his view, saying: "Some ruttish male pandas would beat female pandas if the latter refused sex. Pandas with such behaviour should not be chosen."

Zhang also told a story of a new mother who gave birth to a cub the day before yesterday. "When the cub cried, the mother was scared away. We will choose a panda which has the potential to be a good mother," he said.

He revealed that the panel would finish formulating the standards for selecting pandas within the month on the basis of looks, health, and genetics.

"To qualify for selection, each pair will have to meet the requirements set out," he said.

Set up in 1963, the Wolong Nature Reserve, covering 2,000 square kilometres, is China's first and largest reserve devoted to panda conservation. In the past 14 years, it has found solutions to the three major obstacles to successful captive breeding difficulties in rutting, becoming pregnant and bringing up the cubs.

As a result, pandas bred at the centre account for 70 per cent of pandas raised in captivity in the mainland, Zhao said.

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