Pacts signed for panda conservation

Keepers hold panda cubs while posing for photos at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Feb 2, 2024. (Photo/China Daily)

China seals agreements with zoos in Spain, the U.S., expands cooperation

The China Wildlife Conservation Association recently signed agreements on a new round of international cooperation for giant panda conservation with the Madrid Zoo in Spain and the San Diego Zoo in the United States.

Talks on similar arrangements with the National Zoo in Washington and the Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, are continuing.

Spain, the U.S. and Austria were among the first countries to engage in international cooperation with China for giant panda conservation, and have bred and raised 28 cubs, according to data from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

At the end of last year, China was engaged in giant panda conservation cooperation research with 18 countries, with 56 giant pandas living abroad.

The wild population of giant pandas in China has increased significantly over the past 40 years, growing from around 1,100 in the 1980s to approximately 1,900 individuals. The global captive population of giant pandas has reached 728, according to the administration.

The conservation association said the focus of the new round of cooperation will be on the prevention and control of major diseases affecting giant pandas, the protection of giant panda habitats and wild populations, the enhancement of survey and monitoring capabilities, and support for the establishment of the China Giant Panda National Park.

The cooperation also aims to build an international academic exchange platform to promote cooperation and exchanges in the protection of flagship and umbrella species, as well as to promote people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries.

"The most important premise and foundation of international cooperation is to ensure the healthy and safe living conditions of giant pandas living abroad," an association official said.

The official said that during the cooperation, both parties will strengthen regular health monitoring assessments and on-site inspections, while continuously releasing information on the status of giant pandas living abroad, ensuring their health and safety.

Chinese experts will stay with overseas giant pandas with unstable health conditions to care for them, and also provide full technical guidance and support on major issues related to giant panda breeding and cub rearing, disease treatment and other important matters.

"The giant panda is a national treasure of China and is beloved by people around the world," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday. "Since the 1990s, China has cooperated in giant panda conservation with 26 institutions from 20 countries, effectively enhancing research capabilities for giant panda conservation, promoting international cooperation in the protection of rare and endangered wildlife, and enhancing friendship between the Chinese and people from other countries.

"We look forward to a new round of international cooperation between China and relevant countries for giant panda conservation, which will further expand the scientific research achievements in the protection of giant pandas and other endangered species, and promote people-to-people connectivity and friendly exchanges."