A recently concluded survey, begun in 1999, indicates that the number of giant pandas living in the wild has increased from 1,100 in the last survey (1985–1988) to over 1,590. The count does not include pandas under 18 months of age.

There are also 161 giant pandas of breeding age living in captivity, 23 of which are in countries outside China.

Zhao Xuemin, deputy administrator of State Forestry Administration (SFA), announced the results of the survey at a press conference sponsored by the State Council Information Office in Beijing on Thursday.

The results of other national surveys of other wild fauna and flora resources, as well as those specifically targeting wetland resources, were also released. The SFA began conducting these surveys in the mid-1990s.

Zhao ascribed the increase in wild giant pandas to the implementation in the early 1990s of the Project for Conservation of the Giant Panda and its Habitat in China. China currently has 40 nature reserves dedicated to the protection and conservation of giant pandas and their habitats.

Despite the increase in numbers, the giant panda remains an endangered species.

According to Zhuo Rongsheng, director in charge of wild fauna and flora resources protection under the SFA, low fertility rates, limited diet and availability of food, and susceptibility to disease mean that the pandas are still highly vulnerable.

“Under no circumstance will we relax our protection of the animal,” Zhuo pledged. He said the administration is working to put some 90 percent of giant pandas’ habitats and population under the protection of nature reserves.

Protected habitats are still far from ideal. Each of the 40 giant panda reserves is isolated from the others and there are no exchanges of visits between them.

The administration seeks to link most of the reserves so that the giant pandas can come and go freely between them. Freedom of movement and greater exchanges between the animals should strengthen the gene pool. Zhuo noted that linking the reserves is a difficult task, but did not provide specifics as to how it is to be accomplished.

Populations of 34 other wild animal species that receive priority national protection have increased. However, nine other species that have not been under priority national protection have experienced remarkable declines, including 8 snake species. The survey indicates that managed breeding may offset the losses in these species.

Among the most seriously endangered are South China tigers, red ibis, golden snub-nosed monkeys, Tibetan gazelle (goa) and Yangtze River alligators.

Endangered flora tend to draw less public attention than animals, but the survey indicated that as many as 104 species of wild plants – orchid and dawn redwood in particular – are now on the verge of extinction.

The State Forestry Administration has updated its list of wild plants to be afforded priority protection, said Zhuo, and the state will strictly regulate the exploitation and utilization of wild plants and give stronger support for the cultivation of such resources.

The first national survey of wetlands showed that there are 38.5 million hectares of wetlands across China, including 36.2 million hectares of natural wetland (13.7 million hectares of swamp, 5.9 million of coastal wetland, 8.2 million of riparian wetlands and 8.4 million of lake wetlands). At present, about 40 percent of natural wetlands have been integrated into 353 nature reserves, but problems with enclosed land reclamation and pollution remain.

(China.org.cn by Chen Qiuping, June 11, 2004)