Panda News from around the world
  • Zhang Ka Gives Birth to Twins in the Wolong Semi Wild Centre

    Another success for the Wolong semi wild team, Zhang Ka an 11 year old wild born Giant Panda has given birth to twins. The second cub was a girl and weighed 137.4g at birth. The second cub was removed because Giant Panda mothers can only raise one cub at a time and the second is usually left to die.

    She was mated with Bai Yang on May 26th 2011.

    Mother and cubs doing well.
  • Su Lin Provides First Cub of 2011

    At 12:36 Local time on July the 7th 2011 Su Lin (Born at San Diego Zoo), gave birth to the first cub of the year.

    When the Cub was first born, Su Lin was a bit surprised but after a few minutes a strong maternal instinct took over and Su Lin began to mother the new cub.

    At 13:12 another cub was born but this was an underdeveloped fetus and soon died. The keepers immediately took away this cub.

    Su Lin and Cub are both being watched very carefully by staff via CCTV cameras.

    Well done Su Lin, and congratulations to the hard working staff of CCRCGP at Wolong.
  • Su Lin Moves to New Home

    The Wolong Panda Park Blog has released some photos of when they transfered Su Lin to the semi wild enclosure near to Wolong.

    Su Lin along with 5 other pandas who were bred this year have been release in to semi wild enclosures. These enclosures are a lot bigger than the ones at Bi Feng Xia and the pandas will not interact with humans.

    It is hoped that the pregnant Giant Pandas will give birth and bring up their cubs in a more natural way. This is one of the first steps of many of being able to release Giant Pandas back in to the wild.
  • Pandas International donate new cameras

    The wonderful people at Pandas International have sent some camera equipment over to the panda club. They hope that they can be of use in monitoring and recording when pandas are giving birth.

    Pandas International provide lots of items for the pandas including incubators and panda milk. After the earthquake they also supplied emergency equipment for both pandas and humans.

    Pandas International is currently running a Pennies 4 Pandas drive, why not head over and make a small donation to help protect our wonderful friends the pandas.
  • Pandas International May Newsletter / Appeal.

    This months newsletter from Pandas International. Republished with permission.

    One Year Later, Earthquake Damage Affects Pandas & Staff
    Dear Friend of Pandas International,
  • Concern over reconstruction plan

    Plans that have been started to reconstruct the destruction caused by the massive earthquake on May 12th 2008, but some experts are warning that hasty rebuilding could accelerate the fragmentation of the fragile pandas habitat.

    "The earthquake and the human response to the earthquake are actually posing new threats to the long-term viability of the wild pandas," said Marc Brody, founder of the conservation group Panda Mountain—U.S.-China Environmental Fund. Brody has been working in the region for nearly a decade and is helping the Chinese government with blueprints for reconstruction.
  • Wolong facility begins reconstruction

    It has been reported on MSNBC that repairs have started at the Wolong Research Centre, which was all but destroyed during the May 12th earthquake. Director Zhang Hemin said that it should take three years before the repairs are completed and the rescued Pandas can return.
  • Tourists numbers back up after Quake.

    After the devastating earth quake on May 12th, Tourists to Wolong and Chengdu Research Centres fell. Whilst Wolong has been pretty much destroyed and will take some time before it is fully functional again Chengdu is reporting that tourists are returning and numbers are about the same as last year.

    October is the golden month in the Base’s annual tourism season. During the 7-day national holiday (this year from September 29 to October 5), about 31,822 tourists from home and abroad visited the Base, engaging in an exploration of the panda’s life and its survival secrets.
  • Chester Zoo (UK) gives extra funding to Quake hit Pandas

    CHESTER Zoo has come to the aid of a vital Chinese research base which was hit by a devastating earthquake.
    The Sichuan Province area of China was left shattered by a huge earthquake in May this year; the largest natural disaster in the country in nearly 60 years.

    Measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, the earthquake led to the deaths of more than 70,000 ADVERTISEMENT people.

    The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which has been financially supported by Chester Zoo for a number of years, suffered some structural damage.
  • Tv Show about Wolong Panda Research Centre

    For those of us in the UK, Animal Planet is due to start a new series on the pandas at the Wolong Breeding Centre.

    Starting Tuesday, September 9th, 20089:00pm to 10:00pm.

    Follow the reference for the complete list on when it's on.

    (My other half had better set up SKY+ to record this whilst I'm away. :) )
  • The Story of Gougou's Mating

    Jennifer Keating from the San Diego Zoo, blogs about her time at Wolong Panda Breeding Centre in March, when Gou Gou was mated.
  • and then there was 7

    Another 13 pandas have been moved to Bifengxia from the Wolong Panda Breeding Centre, Leaving only 7 one year olds at the Centre. The one year olds will remain at Wolong, where they will be looked after the keepers. They are the hope for the rebuilding of the Wolong Panda Breeding centre.
  • A tale of 3 pandas

    Si Jia (思嘉), Qian Qian (芊芊) and Mei Qian (美茜) were moved from the Wolong Panda Breeding Centre, On July 26th to Yunnan Wild Animal Zoo due to the quake on May 12th.

    Follow the Link below in the references to read their story.
  • Panda couple's happy life at new home

    Some pictures of 'Tuan Tuan' and 'Yuan Yuan', the panda couple expected to be sent to Taiwan. Taken at Bifengxia where they moved to after the May 12th Quake left their previous home the Panda Breeding Centre in Wolong devastated.

    It appears to be that they have settled in quite well.
  • Interview from CCTV9 about the future of the panda

    Follow the reference to an excellent video of a discussion about the state of the panda and it's future.
  • New Breeding Centre to cost 2Bln yuan

    Plans drawn up by The Wolong reserve, Beijing University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to rebuild the Panda Breeding Centre will cost an estimated 2Bln yuan (290 million U.S. dollars / 145 million UK Pounds).
  • Edinburgh Zoo checks on pandas.

    A team from Edinburgh zoo is setting off this month to visit Wolong Panda Breeding Center to see for themselves the destruction caused by the earth quake on May 12th. They will also be asking officials how the current situation will effect them obtaining a pair of breeding pandas in spring 2009.