Chinese CHL Volunteers need to Cowboy-Up
Folks, this is a horrible failure! These are goddamn pandas, for chrissakes!

Beijing, June 21. (PTI): A new study suggests that China may have more giant pandas living in the wild than the previous estimates, the state media reported on Tuesday.

The research, has found that the number of wild pandas in the Wanglang Nature Reserve, southwest China's Sichuan Province, climbed to 66 from 27 in 2002.

It was jointly carried out by the Institute of Zoology (IOZ), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wanglang Nature Reserve, Sichuan Forestry Department and Cardiff University of the United Kingdom.

The research has utilised non-invasive techniques, including microsatellite DNA profiles from 370-plus faecal samples collected at the reserve and neighbouring regions, says Wei Fuwen, director of the Centre for Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, IOZ, who has led the team in the last two years.

Traditionally, the census on giant pandas relies on the analysis of bite size of bamboos found in their faeces combined with their home-range, which is hard to track, he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Since the 1970s, China has carried out three national surveys on giant pandas. The first two found declines in panda population across their range in south-western China.

However, the third survey, completed in 2002, showed for the first time a recovery of the endangered species, thanks to protection measures taken by the Chinese Government, including the setting up of a network of nature reserves and strictly enforced prohibition on poaching and deforestation.

The 2002 census showed that there were 1,596 wild giant pandas living across China, mainly in the over 40 reserves spread across Shaanxi, Sichuan and Gansu provinces. The number of captive giant pandas was 161.
- nostradamusfunkadelic, 9:13 AM | |