Experts have predicted that the areas that were effected by the May 12th earthquake last year may see a reduction in the number of panda cub births this year.

"Wild pandas must store energy before moving to higher altitudes for reproduction between March and July, but most of the bamboo plants in the habitats were buried in the quake, making it difficult for wild pandas to find food," said Zhang Hemin, director of the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in the Wolong nature reserve. "This will affect their reproduction.

"We are worried the birth rate will decrease this year," he said.

Experts are monitoring the pandas with inferred cameras. Research has shown that areas 2,500 meters above sea level, the core of the pandas habitat were only slightly damaged by the earthquake.

Zhang said that the pandas at the Bifengxia sister site of Wolong are doing well and have mainly overcome the shock of the quake. They are expecting more births this year than last. (13 cubs were born at Bifengxia last year.)