Rare takins are captured on camera in the Tangjiahe Nature Reserve within the Sichuan section of the Giant Panda National Park. [Photo by Deng Jianxin]

 

The Sichuan section of the Giant Panda National Park has restored 22,700 hectares of giant panda habitat over the past five years, helping the population recover and improving habitat connectivity, according to local authorities.

 

Established in October 2021, the park is home to nearly 1,400 wild pandas. The Sichuan section covers 19,300 square kilometers, accounting for nearly 88 percent of the park's total area.

Rare golden snub-nosed monkeys are captured on camera in the Tangjiahe Nature Reserve within the Sichuan section of the Giant Panda National Park. [Photo by Deng Jianxin]

 

Zhou Gupeng, director of the Sichuan Administration of the Giant Panda National Park, told a news conference on Monday that new traces of wild panda distribution had been monitored in several areas.

 

According to field monitoring, the number of wild pandas in eight key areas has increased from 178 to 191.

 

Zhou said a panda released into the wild in Shimian county, Ya'an, was recorded participating in natural reproduction, with a suspected offspring identified. Meanwhile, seven ecological corridors have captured images of wild panda activity over 150 times, indicating the corridors are effectively facilitating gene exchange.

 

A wild giant panda is captured by a remote camera in the Sichuan section of the Giant Panda National Park.

 

The Sichuan section has recorded 14 new plant species and two new amphibian and reptile species over the past five years, while populations of rare species continue to recover, Zhou added.

 

"In the Baixiongping area of the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, you can often run into takin and tufted deer, and if you're lucky, you may even see giant pandas and otters by the stream," Zhou said.

 

Gu Xiaodong, deputy director of the administration, said the Sichuan section has built over 70 nature trails totaling more than 100 kilometers, turning forests into outdoor classrooms. Over 3 million visitors come annually for ecological experiences.

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin

Source: chinadaily.com.cn