With the official unveiling of the National Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, a world-class platform for giant panda scientific research cooperation and exchange that gathers outstanding giant panda scientific research teams across the country was announced. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the Sichuan Forestry and Grassland Administration, and the Chengdu Municipal Government jointly invested an initial 110 million yuan to establish the Giant Panda Conservation Research Fund, and simultaneously launched research on key technologies for the protection of wild giant panda populations and habitats in national parks, and the genetic diversity of captive giant panda populations. There are two major joint research projects on key technologies for sexual protection.

Since then, the protection and research of giant pandas in my country has entered a new era.

The giant panda, a species endemic to my country, is one of the oldest existing relic species on earth. It is a rare species, flagship species and star species in the world's biodiversity protection. Its footprints have been all over the Yellow River and Yangtze River in my country. , the three major river basins of the Pearl River. After a long and cold ice age, the impact of human activities has continued to intensify. The giant panda's habitat has gradually shrunk to the six major mountain systems in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces, and it was once on the verge of extinction.

According to the fourth national giant panda survey, there are currently 1,864 wild giant pandas in my country. Among them, there are 1,387 in Sichuan Province, 132 in Gansu Province, and 345 in Shaanxi Province. The development of the wild population of giant pandas is relatively stable. According to the latest statistics, as of the end of 2022, there were 698 captive giant pandas in my country. This is a hard-won achievement as my country continues to carry out in-depth conservation of giant pandas.

Over the past few decades, our country has effectively carried out giant panda protection by taking measures such as in-situ protection, ex-situ protection, reintroduction into the wild, cooperation and exchanges, cultural education, and the construction of national parks, and provided benefits to the world. Pandas and their sympatric species have established complete, continuous and vast homes.

Giant panda protection has achieved remarkable results

“Our management station captured footage of wild giant pandas with their children, as well as many wild black bears, wild boars, takin, and forest musk deer. Animals. You can see the tufted deer in this infrared camera," Song Xinqiang, who is in charge of scientific research and monitoring at the Nibashan Giant Panda Corridor in the Giant Panda National Park, told reporters that in order to speed up the Nibashan Giant Panda Ecological Corridor. Through road construction and habitat restoration, they have strengthened genetic exchanges between local giant panda populations in the Daxiangling Mountains and Qionglai Mountains. They have transformed more than 5,000 acres of habitat and replanted more than 44,000 native broad-leaved tree species. Their scientific research team deployed 232 infrared cameras, collected DNA information from 11 individual giant pandas, established a wild giant panda genetic information database, and photographed 52 species of birds and animals, including Sichuan takin and forest musk deer, in addition to giant pandas.

“The giant panda is a typical umbrella species. Protecting the giant panda is like opening a big umbrella, effectively protecting more than 8,000 species of wild animals, plants and ecosystems in its habitat, forming a The mutually beneficial and symbiotic relationship has enhanced the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the ecosystem where giant pandas live, making the foundation for the expansion of the wild giant panda population more solid," said Wu Daifu, Secretary of the Party Branch of the Hetaoping Base of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center. explain.

In situ conservation is a method of protecting species and their habitats in their place of origin in compliance with protecting the authenticity and integrity of species and their habitats.

In 1963, my country established the first batch of protected areas with giant pandas as the main protection targets in Sichuan and Gansu, including Wolong and Rangshuihe. In the 1970s, new nature reserves such as Foping in Shaanxi and Tangjiahe and Fengtongzhai in Sichuan were built. This is the earliest form of in-situ conservation of giant pandas.

In 1992, my country launched the "China Conservation Project for Giant Pandas and Their Habitats." Focusing on the establishment of giant panda nature reserves, 14 new giant panda nature reserves will be built by improving the construction and management of the 13 established giant panda nature reserves. Establish giant panda habitat protection and management stations in 32 counties in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, build giant panda protection corridors, and initially form a giant panda protected area network.

In 2001, my country launched the “National Wildlife Protection and Nature Reserve Construction Project.” Through measures such as building a management and protection station in each of the 55 giant panda distribution counties outside the protected area and building 17 giant panda corridors, the giant panda distribution areas in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces have been expanded and connected into one area, creating a new environment for giant pandas. Create conditions for giant panda breeding and genetic exchange.

In October 2021, my country officially established the Giant Panda National Park, with a total area of ​​more than 22,000 square kilometers. About 72% of the giant pandas are strictly protected, and the connectivity and connectivity of the giant panda habitats have been further improved. Completeness has formed a habitat protection system with the Giant Panda National Park as the main body. The protected giant panda habitat area has increased from 1.39 million hectares to 2.58 million hectares, effectively maintaining the safety and sustainable development of giant panda wild populations and promoting the The total number of pandas in the wild has increased from about 1,100 in the 1980s to nearly 1,900.

The World Conservation Union has adjusted the endangerment level of the giant panda from "endangered" to "vulnerable", indicating that my country's giant panda conservation achievements have been unanimously recognized by the international wildlife conservation community, which is also a full affirmation of my country's conservation efforts.

In the process of ex-situ conservation of giant pandas, my country established the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center in the early 1980s to carry out research on captive breeding of giant pandas.

“In the 1980s, the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center based on six giant pandas rescued from the wild, and after more than ten years of arduous exploration, worked hard to overcome the problems of 'difficulty in estrus' and 'difficulty in estrus' in artificial breeding of giant pandas. "It is difficult to breed and conceive, and it is difficult to raise young to survive." Wei Rongping, deputy director of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center, said that as the "national team" of giant panda research, the Panda Center has been responsible for generations of pandas for a long time. Continuously fulfilling the original mission and overcoming difficulties, we have established the artificially bred giant panda population with the largest number and the best genetic structure, made breakthroughs in key technologies for the reintroduction of giant pandas, promoted foreign cooperation and exchanges of giant pandas, and promoted the development of giant pandas. Cultural construction has developed vigorously, forming a team of scientific research talents with first-class industry standards and advanced experience.

Enter the Shenshuping Base of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center in Gengda Town, Wolong. In the park, there are whirling bamboo forests, shady green trees, lush green bamboos, birds singing and the fragrance of flowers, fresh air, and acres of greenery. The lawns and winding trails make you feel refreshed. When the reporter arrived, it was already early winter, snow had already begun to fall on the top of Shenshuping Mountain, and there were colorful late autumn woods halfway up the mountain.

This is the native habitat of giant pandas and is known as the "Hometown of Pandas", "Precious Biological Gene Bank" and "Natural Animal and Botanical Garden". On a semicircular hillside, giant panda enclosures of different sizes are scattered. Some of the cute giant pandas were eating bamboo, some were resting among the branches of the trees, and some were lying on their backs on the lawn basking in the sun.

Wei Rongping told reporters that over the years, many scientific researchers have worked hard and tirelessly and made a series of major achievements in giant panda biology, physiology, genetics, ecology, conservation, medicine and other aspects. With progress, more than 100 patents and scientific and technological achievements have been obtained, the giant panda global genetic resource library has been basically built, a large amount of extremely valuable giant panda genetic materials of various types have been collected and preserved, and the whole genome sequencing has been completed, accelerating the process of decoding the life of giant pandas. It has filled the gap in research on giant panda genome and molecular biology; through genetic research, it has clarified the mate selection mechanism of giant pandas and revealed key factors such as habitat requirements of giant pandas. The rewilding training and release of artificially bred populations into the wild provide strong scientific and technological support.

Data show: As of the end of 2022, the number of captive giant pandas in my country has reached 698, and the average kinship value of the captive population has gradually decreased, and the genetic diversity has continued to increase. After scientific evaluation, the existing captive giant pandas The population can maintain 90% of its genetic diversity for up to 200 years, becoming a healthy, dynamic, and sustainable population, laying a solid foundation for conservation research, science education, and reintroduction into the wild.

The Hetaoping Base of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center is mainly responsible for training captive giant pandas in the wild. In 2003, they took the lead in launching research on the training and reintroduction of artificially bred giant pandas. After a series of explorations, they explored the training method of "mother with cubs" and gradually established a set of training, reintroduction, and monitoring systems for giant pandas. and other key technologies.

Currently, they have conducted 11 captive giant pandas for wild training and released them into the wild. 9 survived and obtained 7 national patents. They have established technology for giant panda wild training and reintroduction. The system provides a scientific and effective new way to solve the inbreeding problem faced by isolated giant panda populations, promote population rejuvenation, and achieve the overall sustainable development of the giant panda population.

He Shengshan, who has been engaged in giant panda rewilding training for a long time, told reporters that reintroduction training is a long process that starts before the panda cubs are born. It is mainly divided into two stages. The first stage is From when the mother panda is pregnant to when the panda cub is about one year old, the second stage is from when the panda cub is about one to two years old.

He Shengshan told reporters that giant pandas are at the top of the food chain. Adult giant pandas have no natural enemies. However, before they are two years old, panda cubs may encounter attacks from wild boars, black bears, snakes, etc. As their size increases, The bigger they get, the safer they get. Therefore, the training circle in the second stage is almost exactly the same as the wild environment, with tall trees and shrubs, as well as wild animals such as wild boars. They will observe the living conditions of giant pandas through collars and some monitoring cameras.

"In 2003, we were the first in the world to launch the training and release of giant pandas into the wild. In April 2006, Xiangxiang, who had gone through many tests, was released into the mountains and forests, taking the first step towards raising giant pandas in captivity. The first step in reintroduction. In February 2007, Xiangxiang lost his life due to serious injuries in a fight with a wild giant panda. We are summarizing the failure of the reintroduction of the first captive giant panda. Based on the experience and lessons learned from wild training and release, we have refined wild training methods such as 'mother animals taking care of cubs', minimizing human interference and giant pandas' dependence on people and artificial food, and optimizing field monitoring." Li Desheng, deputy director of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center, told reporters that more captive giant pandas that have undergone rewilding training have been released into the wild using the "mother with cubs" method.

Messengers of peace, a symbol of friendship

In 2023, with the giant panda Xiang Xiang living in Japan, the giant pandas Yaya, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, ​​Xiao Qi Qi and others living in the United States will return one after another. China. The foreign exchanges and cooperation of giant pandas have become the focus of public attention.

Giant pandas are China’s “national treasures” and messengers of friendship, and are deeply loved by people around the world. Since the 1990s, my country has carried out cooperative research on giant panda protection with 26 institutions in 20 countries, and has achieved fruitful results in promoting scientific research on giant panda protection and promoting international friendly exchanges.

“Through foreign exchanges and cooperation, we have not only overcome a number of technical difficulties in the field of giant panda protection and breeding, but also satisfied the desire of foreign people to see China’s ‘national treasures’. The foreign public can learn about giant pandas during the visit. Protect the results, listen to the stories of giant panda protection, experience China’s ecological culture, and enhance cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries,” Li Desheng said.

On August 8, 2019, the Chinese giant panda "Baohao" gave birth to twins "Bao Di" and "Bao Mei". When the news came out, "cat fans" in Belgium were extremely excited and came to the zoo to celebrate. On August 16, 2023, the Chinese Embassy in Belgium and the Paradise Zoo of Belgium jointly held a fourth birthday celebration for the giant panda twins "Bao Di" and "Bao Mei" in Belgium. The Paradise Zoo was crowded that day, as if it were a festival. Many European "cat fans" came here to celebrate the birthdays of the giant panda twins "Bao Di" and "Bao Mei" in Belgium. Everyone watched the giant panda enjoying the "birthday meal" and took photos one after another.

The story of "Bao Di" and "Bao Mei" is just a microcosm of many giant pandas traveling abroad.

Since my country launched international cooperative research on giant pandas, it has successfully bred 41 giant panda cubs and 68 cubs alive. Bringing joy to people all over the world. According to incomplete statistics, the total number of tourists visiting giant pandas from various countries exceeds one billion. Hundreds of various cultural exchange activities related to giant pandas have been held, which has effectively promoted friendly people-to-people exchanges and become an envoy of friendship between China and people of other countries.

"On July 7, 2023, the giant panda 'Hua Ni' in South Korea successfully bred a pair of giant panda twins, and on August 24, the giant panda 'Ding Ding' in Russia successfully bred another pair. The health status of the giant panda cubs is stable. "Staff from the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center said that as of October 2023, Japan, the United States, Austria, Thailand, Spain, and other countries are conducting cooperative research on giant panda protection with my country. There are 19 countries and 21 institutions in Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, Belgium, Malaysia, South Korea, the Netherlands, Germany, Indonesia, Finland, Denmark, Russia, and Qatar, with a total of 60 giant pandas living abroad.

It is understood that countries that cooperate with my country in giant panda cooperation have not only built high-standard breeding and exhibition venues, but also established high-level breeding, medical and scientific research teams, and actively carried out conservation and scientific research exchanges with China, and have been favored by the Chinese side. The host country attaches great importance to it, and international cooperation on giant pandas has played an important role in the protection of giant pandas.

Over the years, the international giant panda partners have given full play to the advantages of collective wisdom, resource superposition and knowledge sharing, and have jointly overcome a series of technical problems in the fields of giant panda protection, breeding, disease prevention and control, and reintroduction into the wild. Published a large number of papers and books of great scientific research value, which not only significantly improved the health level and breeding ability of captive giant pandas, continuously optimized the captive population structure, continuously improved genetic diversity, and continuously extended the average life span; it also significantly improved the status of giant pandas. Its scientific and technological support capabilities for habitat protection have effectively promoted wild conservation. Through international cooperation projects, more than 1,000 people have been trained on the protection of endangered wild animals such as giant pandas, and a large number of professional talents and business backbones have been trained. While promoting the protection of giant pandas, it has also led to the improvement of the overall level of global wildlife protection.

The relevant person in charge of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration stated that forestry and grassland authorities at all levels will further strengthen the genetic management of captive populations in the future, promote population exchanges, and ensure the high genetic quality and sustainable development of captive giant panda populations. Build a giant panda genetic resource bank to ensure the sustainable long-term preservation of high-quality giant panda genetic resources and add a permanent protection barrier for giant pandas. Continue to promote the construction of a giant panda habitat protection system with the Giant Panda National Park as the main body, accelerate the restoration and connection of fragmented habitats of giant pandas, increase reintroduction efforts, promote the reconstruction and rejuvenation of wild populations, and promote high-quality giant panda protection develop. We will further improve the international cooperation and management mechanism for giant pandas, conduct on-site inspections and assessments, refine inspection and assessment standards and emergency response measures, and further improve the management and protection of giant pandas traveling abroad.

Everything needs its harmony to live, and each needs its nourishment to thrive. With the continuous advancement of the construction of my country's giant panda national park, with the widespread application of giant panda training and reintroduction technology and the comprehensive improvement of the level of international exchanges and cooperation of giant pandas, we believe that humans and giant pandas will work together to create a picture of human and nature. A beautiful picture of harmonious coexistence!