Giant Pandas: A Unified Conservation Effort

A multitude of individuals, ranging from government authorities to scientific communities and the general populace, has joined forces to safeguard this endearing species, a distinctive symbol of China.

Chengdu’s Panda Sanctuary: Nurturing China’s National Treasures

With a recently opened area accessible to the public for the past two years, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding remains steadfast in its mission to conserve this species, revered as a national treasure in China.

Thanks to this new section, the base now sprawls over 238 hectares of land, providing a home to a total of more than 230 pandas. However, the center isn’t just a showcase for visitors. It also houses a dedicated team of scientists, researchers, and caretakers whose primary objective is to preserve and augment the panda population.

Pandas usually give birth to one or two cubs, but in the wild, it’s exceptionally challenging for both cubs to survive since the mother typically favors the stronger one. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has successfully addressed this issue through continuous monitoring, climate-controlled facilities for winter, incubators, and assisted insemination when necessary. An ingenious approach involves alternating two cubs born to the same mother. This way, the mother cares for one cub for a period, then discreetly switches them, allowing her to nurture both without even realizing it.

While bamboo is the primary diet of giant pandas, they also consume bulbs, roots, and certain fruits. According to a base guide, these mammals can sleep up to 12 hours a day and spend another 10 hours eating. Despite their amiable nature, their apparent serenity shouldn’t be underestimated. Pandas are territorial creatures, willing to contend with their peers for territory and food, which is why they adopt a solitary lifestyle and are separated into enclosures after approximately two years.

In addition to creative approaches to take care of the giant pandas, the base has furthermore published over 400 articles in scientific journals, garnered 75 national, provincial, and municipal awards, and secured 81 patents, among other noteworthy accomplishments.

Wang Jiarui, working for the new media department of Sichuan Pictorial, often leads various delegations visiting Chengdu to the base. “In my view, pandas are a species with an irresistibly charming appearance, serving as a symbol of China,” he asserts. “All the visitors I’ve encountered adore pandas because they evoke feelings of sweetness and peace, and they can also bridge gaps between different nationalities and cultures.”

Environmental Guardianship: China’s Commitment to Wildlife Conservation

As part of its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, China has made significant strides in environmental preservation, clean energy utilization, biodiversity protection, and greenhouse gas reduction. The conservation of giant pandas and other wildlife has been integral to this collective effort, involving government, the private sector, and the community.

As emphasized in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a fundamental government commitment is the promotion of green development and the fostering of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. “Nature is the fundamental condition upon which human existence and development depend. Respecting, adapting to, and protecting it are inherent requirements for building a modern socialist country,” the report states. In this vein, China’s development has been conceived hand in hand with the protection and conservation of the environment, encompassing its flora and fauna.

However in fact, predating these recent governmental and civilian efforts, through Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Wildlife in 1988 and Environmental Protection Law of China in 1989, China outlawed the illegal hunting of giant pandas, imposing severe penalties for this offense. Furthermore, substantial resources have been allocated to awareness campaigns within the local population.

Magdalena Rojas, a journalist from China Today, has resided in China for approximately five years. “I’ve visited zoos and conservation centers in other countries, but in China, I believe animals enjoy a more suitable environment and more space, which, though artificial, closely mimics their natural habitat,” she observes. She also expresses deep satisfaction in witnessing how the research center and its staff take the care of pandas seriously, indicating a genuine commitment to their well-being.

Pandas primarily inhabit southwestern China, in the provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu. According to the latest census conducted by the Chinese government in 2015, nearly 1,900 pandas roam in the wild, marking a 16.3 percent increase from the last census conducted 20 years ago. Additionally, there are 67 panda reserves across China, contributing not only to the conservation of the species but also to the protection of extensive areas of mountainous bamboo forests. (Photographs by Devinder Kumar)