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Panda sightings indicate their habitat expanding
Source: Xinhua |
May 9, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ZOOLOGISTS are investigating the possibility that the endangered giant panda has expanded its habitat in southwest China.
Residents at a village in Sichuan Province have reported traces of the bears in a mountainous area where they were previously unknown.
"Giant pandas appear to have been active in Sichuan's Dahua Township for more than two months. The area may be a new habitat for them," said Luo Jian, an official with Shenguozhuang Provincial Giant Panda Reserve in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
A Dahua resident gave samples of excrement he discovered to the Shenguozhuang reserve on April 30.
Tests revealed it came from a healthy giant panda.
Giant pandas have not lived in the area for at least two decades, villagers said. Some residents claimed to have seen giant pandas in March and April.
If one panda has settled in the area, it was very likely others have too, Luo said.
"We do not know for sure if the bears the villagers saw were the same panda. And it is difficult to know if it had always been living in Dahua's mountains or has come from somewhere else," he said.
"After further investigation, including catching one, it may be possible to conclude the pandas have expanded their habitat and population," Luo said.
If confirmed, Dahua will be the second panda habitat in Liangshan's Yuexi County. Shenguozhuang District, separated from Dahua by mountains, is estimated to have five or six pandas.
About 1,600 pandas are believed to live in the wild in China, mostly in Sichuan Province.
Residents at a village in Sichuan Province have reported traces of the bears in a mountainous area where they were previously unknown.
"Giant pandas appear to have been active in Sichuan's Dahua Township for more than two months. The area may be a new habitat for them," said Luo Jian, an official with Shenguozhuang Provincial Giant Panda Reserve in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
A Dahua resident gave samples of excrement he discovered to the Shenguozhuang reserve on April 30.
Tests revealed it came from a healthy giant panda.
Giant pandas have not lived in the area for at least two decades, villagers said. Some residents claimed to have seen giant pandas in March and April.
If one panda has settled in the area, it was very likely others have too, Luo said.
"We do not know for sure if the bears the villagers saw were the same panda. And it is difficult to know if it had always been living in Dahua's mountains or has come from somewhere else," he said.
"After further investigation, including catching one, it may be possible to conclude the pandas have expanded their habitat and population," Luo said.
If confirmed, Dahua will be the second panda habitat in Liangshan's Yuexi County. Shenguozhuang District, separated from Dahua by mountains, is estimated to have five or six pandas.
About 1,600 pandas are believed to live in the wild in China, mostly in Sichuan Province.
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