From Captivity to Introduction to the Wild
It is said that weather in Qingcheng quick temper. I have no other comment to make but; is nature not cultivated enough. The truck brings me into the reintroduction fore I can get an idea of this new home of mine, a shower pours down to greet me- I am overwhelmed by such hospitality that […]
Shaanxi Huangbaiyuan Nature Reserve
On the southern slope and in the middle of the Qinling Mountains, in Taibai county, lies the Huangbaiyuan Nature Reserve. Its lush forests and mountain hills are the core distribution areas for wildlife in Shaanxi province, and one of the highest density giant panda distributions within the Qinling Mountains. In 2006，the Shaanxi Huangbaiyuan Provincial Nature […]
Jiao Zi Gave Birth to Rare Triplets, One Survived
In August, San Er, one of Jiao Zi’s triplets, survived thanks to the efforts of giant panda experts and keepers at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. At 17 days old, San Er weighed 329g and was in good health. However her mother’s health was threatened because of a long and difficult labor. […]
The Rare Blood Pheasant
The Ithaginis cruentus；blood pheasant, also referred to as the blood chicken, chicken Taebaek, Songhua chicken, or glass chicken, has not yet made an appearance in any zoos in China or internationally. Crimson-tipped plumage scattered across the belly and chest resembles droplets of blood, giving rise to the bird’s startling name. This beautifully arrayed bird is […]
Su Su’s Biography
Giant panda Su Su was rescued on May 16, 1986 in Mabian county, Sichuan province, and transferred a few days later to the Chengdu Zoo. It is believed that she was born circa 1983, making her approximately 30 years old. She is one of five tricenarians in the captive panda population. Due to the lack […]
Panda Q&A Part 6
Q: At this time is the giant panda population shrinking? Is it under the risk of extinction in this century? A: The giant panda is really a strong species in terms of evolution. It survived the dreadful quaternary ice age while many species that lived during the same time-period have become extinct. This is why […]
Jerdon’s Pit Viper
The Protobothrops jerdonii, more commonly known as Jerdon’s a beautiful, ferocious, and venomous snake. The viper’s natural habitat is spread across China’s provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou, Yun-nan, Tibet, Shaanxi, and throughout southern Asia. They live in mountain areas and on plateaus at altitudes of 1,350-3,160m and can be seen in wild meadows, cultivated land, or […]
A Breathtaking Moment on the Precipice
On the last day of our return journey from the Jiguan Mountains, we were traversing a diff estimated to be 90 degrees up and 50m in height. The path itself was only about 20cm wide and a torrent of water raged below us. I was the heaviest of our team, weighing 110kg, and my teammates […]
The Charm of Mountains
I traveled from Chengdu to Xiaojin to join the census team in May 2013. Throughout the course of my work, I climbed over the Balang Mountains and approached the snowline on Four-girl Mountains (locally known as Mount Siguniang)，along the transect lines, that were pre-determined from a global positioning system (GPS). I had the great fortune […]
From Taciturn to Easygoing
I used to be shy and timid when I spoke to others, but the 4th National Giant Panda Census changed me. My University major was zoology, yet since childhood I was interested in plants, and during the census I was assigned to the biology group. Our role was to identify and recognize different plant species, […]