Wolong Panda Reserve

• Froms 1920s to 1930s, Wolong was exploited by lumbermen, which seriously damaged the ecological environment and increasingly threatened the life of wild animals, including giant pands l. In order to protect giant pandas and other wild animals, Wolong Panda Reserve was established in 1963 . In June 1980, with the joint efforts of WWF and the Chinese Government, the China Research and conservation Center for the Giant Panda was established in Wolong National Nature Conservation. In 1982, it was admitted by the UNESCO to be part of "the International Reserve Net of Man and Biosphere." In 1983 , Wolong special administrative region was established so as to stop the panda poaching problem .
• As the earliest Panda Reserve , Wolong Panda Reserve is located in northwest Sichuan Province, covering an area of 200 thousand hectares. In Wolong Panda Reserve , there are over 4,000 species of plants and it has a very conspicuous vertical spectrum of vegetation which differs with the change of elevations. From 1,155 to 2,070 meters , itl is broad-leaf trees betl ; from 2,070 to 2,500 meters, mixed broad-leaf and coniferous trees; from 2,500 to 3,800 meters, coniferous trees with fir as the main plant; over 3,800 meters, high mountain grassy marshland; more than 4,400 meters, shifting stone shoals, with only snow lotus and a few other plants; over 4,600 meters, nothing but snow.
• The Wolong Panda Reserve is gifted with numerous types of ancient and precious and rare trees, larch, pine, Among the floras are over 200 kinds of medicinal materials including the most famous ones: the bulb of fritillary, Chinese caterpillar fungus, etc. It abounds in bamboos which are the favorite food of the giant panda.
• The Wolong Panda Reserve is also a world of flowers. Fifteen types of azaleas have been discovered. In autumn, myriad blossoms and tree leaves of various colors decorate the mountains and forests like a series of brilliant and colorful paintings.
• In the Panda Reserve , there are 100 species of mammals and over 200 types of birds, in addition to the fish, amphibious animal and reptile of economic value .
• Wolong Panda Reserve houses more than 180 wild giant pandas who count for 10% of the total number in the world . After years' hard work, the dedicated researchers and breeders made great progress in breeding giant pandas,and they finally solved the three difficult problems ---difficult to mate, difficult to conceive and to survival. During this period there were 43 births, including 18 twins and one set of triplets (which the mother reared with assistance) for a total of 66 cubs, of which 53 survived. The average of survival rate was 91%. In recent 4 years, it has been improved to 100%!

• For many years, Wolong Panda Reserve administration burea has beenvsuccessful in solving the problem between the protection and development.The number of wild giant pandas increased from about 90 in 1985 to more than 180 in 2006 . In order to popularize the giant pandas protection, Wolong Panda Museum of China was built ; it is the unique museum in our country to introduce this endangered species.