Wild panda numbers up 16.8% in a decade

A five-month-old giant panda triplet plays with a toy sheep offered by its breeders at Chime Long Safari Park in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb 18, 2015, on the eve of Chinese lunar new year of sheep. (Photo/Xinhua)

The numbers of wild pandas and their habitat have grown fast in the past 10 years, according to the State Forestry Administration.

China's wildlife watchdog released results of the Fourth National Survey on Giant Pandas on Saturday which show that, by the end of 2013, the population across the country had reached 1,864, an increase of 16.8 percent. The number doesn't include cubs younger than 18 months.

Nearly 75 percent of wild pandas live in Sichuan province. The total area of their territory is 25.8 billion square meters, an increase of 11.8 percent.

The survey began in 2011 and took three years to complete. An official said the study will provide bases for research and management of giant pandas in future.

"The past 10 years is the most successful period of panda protection," said Chen Fengxue, deputy head of the administration. "The continuous investment from the government and the public has helped the steady growth of wild pandas and their habitat".

Chen said that in the next three to five years the adminisatrtion will try to improve the habitat, the core part of panda protection.