1 Tahrcountry Musings: First Captive Born Giant Panda Released Into the Wild

Monday, May 01, 2006

First Captive Born Giant Panda Released Into the Wild

Xiang Xiang the panda today became the first captive-born giant panda to be released into the wild. Xiang Xiang was raised at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, or Panda Center, in the Wolong Nature Reserve. Only about 1,600 giant pandas are still left in the wild. If Xiang Xiang's release proves a success, other captive-bred panda releases will follow. Lack of genetic diversity in pandas in the wild is worrying the conservationists. These releases are expected to tackle this problem and pave way for increase in Panda population. Increased protection of habitat will have to go hand in hand with this.

It is good to see one of the world's best-loved endangered animals getting the conservation attention it deserves. Tahrcountry congratulate the Chinese authorities for these stps.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear that these adorable creatures are being protcted by Chinese authorities