A visit to the hometown of giant panda

Whenever you talk about Panda, only one name comes in your mind, China, the home of Panda. Yes China is making all efforts to save and preserve the beautiful and precious species for the world and the generations to come. China has taken various steps to preserve and take care of panda and establishing Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan province, is one of the most valuable step of them.

On the invitation of Ministry of Foreign Affair of China, journalists from South Asia and Southeast Asia visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda. It is the world-famous conservation, research and breeding base for giant panda, as well as the public education base and educational tourism center.

The official of the research base told journalists that total area of the Base is 1500 mu (100 ha.). As an “Ecological Demonstration Project for Giant Panda Ex-situ Conservation”, it is well-known for protecting and breeding endangered wildlife such as giant panda and red panda endemic to China.

The Base is considered as the Paradise for Panda with mountain ranges soaring behind and clear water flowing ahead as well as melodious sounds of birds and trees lingering in the forest.

The official said that in the 1980s, the Base has saved 6 sick and starving giant pandas. Since then, relying on the innovative technology, and without capturing any wild giant panda, the Base has bred 143 giant pandas, totally 214 young pandas with 183 surviving pandas (up to now), serving as the largest artificial breeding population for captive giant pandas, and the genetic quality, individual health of the population are all in good conditions.

The journalists were told that over the past 30 years, the Base has made key breakthroughs in the artificial feeding and management of captive giant pandas; the breeding and rearing of baby pandas; and in disease prevention and genetic management over the population.

“More than 70 scientific projects of the Base are awarded national, provincial or municipal technical innovation honors and scientific progress awards, as well as 14 state-level inventions and patents for utility models,” the official said.

In 1998, the Base was evaluated as a World Natural Heritage sharing the same reputation with the Jiuzhaigou Valley by World Tourism Organization. In 2006, it was listed as the AAAA tourism attraction. At present, the Base receives 3 million tourists per year (2015).

In 2000, the Base took the lead in carrying out public protection education in the national wildlife protection system and establishing a science popularization and education department. Under the guide of China Wildlife Conservation Association, the Base has introduced advanced protection and education concepts and methods.

The official said that it has received highly praise from vast young people, domestic and foreign volunteers and animal enthusiasts. At present, the Base carries out cooperation with many countries and organizations, and also builds an extensive liaison and cooperation network. 

It was told that 1864 giant pandas are in China, out of them more than 400 are in four protection centers. Around 100 red pandas are also in protection centers, it was informed. The official said that panda usually sleeps for 10 hours in a day while takes the same time for eating. Bamboo leaves are the favorite food of panda.

Panda spends 2 to 4 hours every day while playing and having fun. It was told that a heathy panda can eat 20 to 25 Kilograms of food every day. The normal period of life for panda is 25 years.

The mating season for panda is month of March. It is not easy for panda to complete the mating process and produce babies. According to the official, trained staff in base help panda in breeding process.

Raza Khan is a reporter of the Dawn News, and currently an intern with the People's Daily Online.