Wolong National Nature Reserve

Wolong National Nature Reserve (zh-st|s=卧龙自然保护区|t=臥龍自然保護區) is a protected area located in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. Established in 1963, the reserve covers an area of about 200,000 hectares. There are over 4,000 different species recorded in the reserve. [http://www.chinawolong.com/doce/about.htm About Wolong] , Wolong National Natural Reserve.] Wolong National Nature Reserve houses more than 150 highly endangered giant pandas.

Background

In June 1980, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda was established at Wolong with the efforts of both World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Chinese government. To this date, researchers have conducted many breeding research projects on giant pandas and have successfully bred 66 panda cubs.

Location

A mountain stream runs through the Wolong Valley (where the Reserve is); the stream is heavily armoured with boulders and smaller rounded stones. Stream waters are rather alkaline with pH levels in the range of 8.91. (Hogan, 2007) Water quality turbidity is quite high due to extensive sand and gravel mining in stream. [Hogan, C.M., Lumina Tech, "Environmental analysis of the Wolong National Nature Reserve" (2007)]

According to a 2001 research by Dr. Jianguo Liu of Michigan State University, the rate of destruction is higher after the reserve's creation than before its creation. Using NASA's satellite images and records of population, Liu's research team concluded that due to tourism and the increase in local population, the reserve is facing an unprecedented threat. "Tourists don't think they have an impact on panda habitat, but indirectly each visitor has some impact," Liu said. "We don't see ourselves as a destructive force, but we are." [(April 6, 2001). [http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2001/2001-04-06-02.asp Endangered Pandas Not Safe in Chinese Nature Reserve] , Environment News Service.]

2008 Earthquake

The region, including the Panda Research Center, has been largely devastated on 12 May 2008 by a catastrophic earthquake, though the captive giant pandas were initially reported to be safe. [(May 14, 2008). [http://www.pandasinternational.org/news/quake_letter3.html] , Pandas International.] [(May 13, 2008). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7397935.stm] , Pandas 'safe' at park after quake.] Initially, officials were unable to contact the reserve. [cite news|title=Report: Rare giant pandas at Chinese breeding center safe after quake| date=2008-05-13|publisher=International Herald Tribune|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/13/asia/AS-GEN-China-Quake-Pandas.php|accessdate = 2008-05-20] However, PRC’s Foreign Ministry later said that a group of 31 British tourists visiting the Wolong panda reserve in the quake-hit area have returned safe and uninjured to the provincial capital. Nonetheless, the well-being of an even greater number of pandas in the neighbouring panda reserves remains unknown initially. Five security guards at the reserve were killed by the earthquake. [cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/138079/|title=Animal Instinct|last=Liu|first=Melinda|date=2008-05-21|work=China Earthquake|publisher=Newsweek|accessdate=2008-06-10] Six pandas escaped after their enclosures were damaged. By May 20, two pandas at the reserve were found to be injured, while the search continued for another two adult pandas that went missing after the quake. [cite news|title=Two pandas missing in China quake region|date=2008-05-20|publisher=UPI|url=http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/05/20/two_pandas_missing_in_china_quake_region/6711/|accessdate=2008-05-20] By 28 May 2008, one panda was still missing. [cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/29/china.pandas.ap/index.html|title=Panda reserve mulls moving after quake damage|author=Associated Press|date= 2008-05-29|publisher=CNN|accessdate=2008-05-29] Sadly, nine-year-old Mao Mao, a mother of five at the breeding centre, was discovered on Monday, her body crushed by a wall in her enclosure. [cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/10/content_8341008.htm|title=One panda confirmed dead in China quake|last=Yan|first=Yangtze|date=2008-06-10|work=Window of China|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|accessdate=2008-06-10] Panda keepers and other workers placed her remains in a small wooden crate and buried her outside the breeding centre.

ee also

* Red Panda
* Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries
* Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

References

External links

* [http://www.chinawolong.com Official website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3lQdLTBXNU&eurl= Giant panda cubs at Wolong National Nature Reserve]
* [http://www.pandaclub.net/ Wolong Panda Club]
* [http://www.pandaclub.nl/ Dutch informational website about Wolong]