China's wild giant panda population rises to 1,864

Infrared cameras at the Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve in Northwest China's Gansu province have captured photographs of a wild giant panda. [Photo provided by Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve]

Do all giant pandas live in zoos? The answer is no, more and more are being detected in the wild.

"The survey showed that by the end of 2013, the population of wild giant pandas across the country reached 1,864, an increase of 16.8 percent from the last survey ten years ago. The population of captive giant pandas is 375." said Chen Fengxue, deputy director of State Forestry Adminstration.

China has conducted its fourth national survey of giant pandas. Wild giant pandas can only be found in Shaanxi, Gansu and Sichuan provinces, with over 70 percent in Sichuan. The species' steady increase in numbers has been attributed to legislation, state-funded protection and research programs.

According to the survey, though their numbers are on the rise, one-third of wild giant pandas, or about 600, are still not in nature reserves. They are broken up into small groups, by power stations, roads and high-voltage power lines, all of which seriously threaten their lives and reproduction.

Authorities have vowed tough measures to protect the species.

"From this year, we'll absolutely not allow tourism, mining, or building parks and villas in or around giant panda habitats. We'll expand nature reserves as much as possible and channel the 33 isolated groups in three or five years." Chen said.

International cooperation is also an important part of panda research. China plans to continue with this.

"Since the 1990s, China has not given any pandas away as gifts. We selected foreign zoos to cooperate in research with us. Currently 42 panda adults and cubs are living abroad in 12 countries." said Jia Jiansheng, deputy director of Wildlife Conservation Dept, State Forestry Administration.

China's authorities believe that the survival of the giant panda can not be completely left up to nature, but to a greater extent on their care and management by humans.