Wild giant panda population flourishing in NW China nature reserve

The wild giant panda population in northwest China's Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve is flourishing, with a notable increase in their activity range, traces left behind, and the frequency of encounters in the wild, according to a latest field survey.

Recently, a survey team composed of both scientific researchers and local wood rangers has conducted monitoring and survey work on wild giant pandas within the reserve, aiming at providing more scientific evidence and effective measures for the conservation of wild pandas and their habitats.

"Along a 6-km transect line, we found a total of 18 giant panda fecal samples. What's more valuable is that we encountered four actual giant pandas along the line. Both the rates are relatively higher when compared to other similar habitats of giant pandas," said Gong Minghao, a research fellow at the Institute of Wetland Research of the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF).

The survey team also discovered that the wild giant pandas in this nature reserve are in good health, and their distribution range is steadily expanding.

"From the giant panda fecal samples we have collected, we found that each sample site had over ten fecal piles, with some having as many as over 30. This suggests that the pandas' food intake and bowel movements are ideal, indicating that they are in good health. In addition, we observed an expansion in giant pandas' distribution area. When we compared their current habitat's elevation with data we already had, we found that it's about 100 meters lower on average," said Gong.

Researchers explained that wild giant pandas in the region are busy searching for mate during the ongoing mating season, which increases the chances of encountering them.

Cubs and sub-adult pandas are more easily to be spotted sunbathing on treetops, which helps dry off moisture on their fur, according to Gong.

"Panda cubs are often seen on trees for two main reasons. Firstly, they are lighter, so it's easier for them to climb up a tree than adult pandas do. Secondly, they are more sensitive to the surrounding environment, especially in the morning when their fur get damp (after the night when moisture has accumulated on their bodies). They climb trees to dry off quickly and feel comfortable. So, when the sun rises in the morning, they will enjoy sunbathing on trees to stay warm and cozy," he added.

Wild giant panda population flourishing in NW China nature reserve

A former Peruvian congressman said the recent meeting between the leaders of China and the United States in Peru holds great significance for countries around the world, expressing hope that relations between the two sides would be empowered.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden met in Peru during their attendance to the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima.

Guillermo Aliaga, legal expert and former Peruvian congressman, stressed that the meeting has global implications.

"I think that all the meetings that have been taking place here in Peru because of the APEC (summit) have been really important for both big countries. We don't have usually these kind of spaces where both leaders can have meetings and conversations in front of each other. They can talk about multiple things, including, of course, the security around the world. So I think it is really important," he said.

"If we don't have the appearance of both presidents, we might have some problems in order to take actual decisions. From the Peruvian point of view, we think that the presence of the president of China has been really important, especially to do with the new opening of the megaport that we have in Chancay that will have the new route to go to Shanghai," he said.

The Chancay Port, a project on under the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative, opened on November 14 and is set to enhance trade efficiency between South America and Asia, cutting shipping time to China to 23 days and reducing logistics costs by at least 20 percent.

According to Aliaga, the APEC meetings helped spotlight China's investments in the port and other projects in the eyes of U.S. leadership.

"At the same time, the United States has seen that China is investing right now in South America, especially in Peru. So they can talk between each other in order to see what kind of economic relations can be built or improved (between) both countries. Both countries are the biggest ones right now in the economy of the world. The forum of APEC is really important for not only these two countries and their citizens, it is really important also for the citizens around the world. I think that the relations between the two countries need to be empowered," he said.

Former Peruvian congressman hopes for empowered US-China relations