giant panda is beloved by people from all over the world. It is a symbol
of world biodiversity conservation, peace and friendship. The giant panda
is also nature's gift to Chengdu and the province of Sichuan. It is a
special and highly valued resouce in Chengdu.All local and foreign visitors
enjoy the beauty of giant pandas. They are also deeply concerned with
the current status and future of giant pandas.
Giant pandas at the Chengdu
Research Base live in large naturalistic habitats, which help the visitor
to understand how these animals live in the wild . It is an excellent
recreational area and a highlight of any visit to Chengdu.
The Chengdu Research Base of
Giant Panda Breeding is located in the northern suburb of Chengdu on Futou
Hill. It is 10 km from downtown Chengdu, and can be reached by the Panda
Many types of bamboo, trees,
and flowers thrive at the Research Base.Several species of birds also
make their home there. The human-made structures have been designed to
blend well with the natural scenery. Endangered species such as giant
pandas, red pandas, and black-necked cranes reproduce well at the Research
Base. Also located at the Research Base is the Giant Panda Museum which
provides interesting educational information about a variety of species
native to China. Eighty five percent of the habitat for endangered species
native to China. Eighty five percent of the wild panda population resides
in Sichuan. Wild giant pandas can be found in the Chengdu governed areas
of Chongzhou, Dujiangyan, Dayi, Pengzhou, and Qionglai.
The Research Base is one of
the important centers in China for the captive conservation of giant pandas.
The current goal is to increase the captive population of giant pandas.The
ultimate goal is to reintroduce giant pandas to the wild. To achieve this
goal certain pandas will be raised in such a way as to provide them with
the necessary skills to survive in the wild. Reintroduction of captive
animals to the wild will both increase the number of individuals and the
genetic diversity of the wild population. The Research Base hopes to help
ensure the survival of giant pandas and increase the chances for giant
pandas to cexist with humankind.
It is internationally recognized
that there are two key methods involved in the conservation of endangered
species:1 ) protection and preservation of wild habitat, and 2 ) establishment
and maintenance of a self-sustaining survived. From 1963 to 1997,197 giant
panda cubs in 131litters were born in captivity. The overall survival
rateis 59.4% ). The overall survival rate for curbs to the age of three
years is 35.5%(in Chengdu this survival rate 48.8%).
The Chengdu Research Base and
the Chengdu Zoo jointlyhouse 33% of the captive giant panda embryo transfer
and genome resource banking for endangered species are focused on. Many
famous Chinese scientists are conducting preliminary research in this
laboratory on giant panda embryo transfer, and have obtained some signigicant
Giant Panda Museum was estabilished in 1992. This is the only museum in
the world which foocuses entirely on the critically endangered giant panda.
In addition to the Giant Panda Museum, a Batterfly and Vertebrate Museum
have also recently been opened. These three separate museums work collectively
to educate visitors. The three separate museums work collectively to educate
visitors. The three museums occupy a total area 12,450 preserved specimens
from 2140 species of mammals,birds,reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects,
and fossils. Many of the species on exhibit are books from China and other
countries. This is a comprehensive museum which educates visitors on full
range of tropics including: biodiversity, conservation, reproduction,
and wildlife husbandry.
The Research Base has welcomed
many levels of government officials and over 100,000 visitors from China
and scientific achievements of the Research Base have been highly praised
by visitors. As a result of these achievements, the Research Base have
been highly praised by visitors. As a result of these achievements, the
Research Base received the following awards: 1) Global 500 Award from
the United Nations Enviromental Planning Department; 2)China's Gold Medal
for scientific technology of plants, which is the highest award given
for China's enviromental protection, and 3) the Excellent National Projject
for Comprehensive Improvement of Environment Award.
The construction of the Research
Base and its achievements exemplify the Chinese goverment's high level
of concern and willingness to take responsibility for enviromental protection.
The Research Base represents China's highest goals for enviromental protection.
The Research Base represents China's highest goals for conservation and
wildlife management.The Research Base represents China's highest goals
for conservation and wildlife management. The Chinese goverment's promise
to the international society, when it signed a contract to conserve biodiversity,
has been partially fufilled with the construction of the Research Base.The
Research base promotes Chengdu's captive population. The Chengdu Municipal
Goverment decided to eatablish the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda
Breeding in March 1987. Leaders of the Central Goverment, Provincial Goverment,and
Municipal Goverment, as well as people from foreign countries, have all
contributed to building the Research Base. Over a decade of construction
has resulted in the completion of the first and second phases of development.
The first and second phases of development.
The first and second phase
encompass an area of 37 hectares and contain: research buildings, laboratories,
veterinary facilities,welcoming center,and the giant Panda Museum, and
naturalistic enclosures for giant pandas, red pandas and black-necked
cranes. The total investment to date is 50 million RMB(about 6.1 million
U.S.dollars).In 1993, the Chengdu Municial Goverment decided to build
the third phrase of the project convering an area of 203 hectares. The
third phrase invovles construction of enclosures which simulate the wild
habitat of giant pandas. The purpose of these enclosures is to prepare
captive-born pandas for reintroduction into the wild.
The Research Base and the Chengdu
Zoo curently house 21 giant pandas, over 20 red pandas, black-necked cranes,
and white storks. There are 14 species of bamboo, and 300 other plant
species at the Research Base. Ninety species of birds also make their
talented and knowledgeable scientists work at the Research Base, which
has the most technologically advanced facilities in China. Scientific
idaes and information are exchanged and cooperative research is conducted
between experts at the Research Base scientists in universities and research
institutions throughout China and other countries. Several breakthoughs
have been made by Research Base scientists in basic and applied research
on endangered species, like the giant panda.Fifty projects have been applied
research on endangered species, like the giant panda. Thirty of these
projects have won national, provincial , and municipal Science Thechnology
Awards. Some of these research projects are the most advanced in the world,
such as rearing of twin cubs by one mother, DNA paternity determination,
endangered species sperm-banking, and etiology and prevention for hemorrighic
entertis. In 1993 and 1997, Chengdu hosted two major Panda Symposia.
Since 1980-1997, 46 cubs in
31 litters have been born in captivity in Chengdu. Of these cubs, 27 cubs
have survived. Mei Mei a female panda from Chengdu has been describes
as a " supermom",because she gave birth to 11 cubs in nine litters of
which seven cubs survived. Her daughter Qing Qing surpassed her by giving
birth to 10 cubs in six litters, and they reputation as the "hometown"
of giant pandas. One of the highlights of any visit to Chengdu,the Research
Base helps visitors to become familiar with Chengdu and giant pandas.
Visitors are also educated about enviromental protection and science.
In 1993, The Chengdu Municipal
Goverment agreed with the Chengdu Travel Bureau's plan to construct the
China Panda City in Chengdu. The Research Base is one of the main parts
of the China panda City and encompasses an area of 240 hectares. The second
part of the China Panda City is a tourism develomendt area, which will
be 170 hetares in size. The Research Base was built by the Chengdu Garden
Bureau. The tourism development area will be built by Chengdu Tourism