Rangers dedicate lives to pandas they may never see

The Giant Panda National Park, launched in 2021, covers 22,000 sq km, and is home to some 1,340 wild giant pandas, accounting for more than 70 percent of the country's total wild panda population.

Thanks to conservation efforts, including habitat restoration and the reduction of human activities, the integrity and connectivity of giant panda habitats have markedly improved, leading to an increase in the number of pandas observed in the wild, according to authorities.

Monitoring results suggest that populations of other rare animals in the region, such as the golden snub-nosed monkey and the snow leopard, are steadily growing. New plant species have also been discovered in recent years, adding further evidence of ecological improvement.

A key approach to habitat restoration has been the development of bamboo corridors that link isolated forest patches, allowing pandas to move between areas, find food and meet potential mates from other groups.

In Yingjing, the Niba mountain area is crucial for connecting the panda populations in the Daxiangling mountain range with those in the Qionglai mountain range. However, the connecting pathway used to be cut off by a national highway and logging activities.

"An ideal ecosystem for giant pandas consists of an optimal mix of trees, shrubs, bamboo and grass," Fu said. "Bamboo that is too dense impedes their movement, while bamboo that is too sparse forces them to travel long distances to find enough food."

In experimental woodland plots nestled within the forest, Fu and local researchers have been working to determine the right vegetation mix for the panda's habitat. One plot, Fu said, clearly illustrates the contrast between restored and unrestored forest.

Separated by a narrow path, the left side features tall fir trees with thick canopies that block out most sunlight, leaving the forest floor nearly barren. On the right, the vegetation is far more diverse, with sunlight streaming through gaps in the broadleaf foliage and a layered understory of low shrubs and lush bamboo thriving below.

"The difference clearly shows what habitat restoration can achieve," Fu said. "The plantation on the left was commonly established in the region after logging was called off, with little consideration for ecological value. It has low species diversity and offers little benefit to wildlife. It's the type of forest we aim to restore and improve nowadays."