Chris Cantell Discusses Science: Chinese Pandas Are Well And Safe! Milota Sidorova

Chinese pandas are well and safe, says official Chinese media source. However, the rest of the world has stunned shocked over the death tolls from the last week's catastrophic earthquake breaking 60,000 unaccounted people (with possible chance to pass 100,000), State Forestry Administration declared that those rare animals were safe.Panda, that gained more popularity than dragon, a national symbol of ancient China has become an emblem of modern China. This more than 1.5 m long and around 75 cm tall mammal, weighting over 100 kg (220 pounds) lives rarely located in regions of Sichuan, Gansu, Saanxi and Tibet. The estimates mention the population of 1,600 Giant Pandas (or Chinese Pandas) living in the wild of western Chinese mountainous area and more than 240 captivated individuals. The largest breeding center is Wolong National Nature Reserve, not very far from Sichuan earthquake.Pandas belong among the slowest and the worst breeding animals and take place on world's endangered animal list. Due its cute baby look Panda became a symbol of friendship as well and Panda like creature Jingjing represents one of five mascot elements in the upcoming Olympic Games. Passing through the history, Pandas were considered to be rare and noble that even the mother of Emperor Wen of Han wished to be burried with a panda skull in her vault. Giving pandas to another kings or politics meant very deep act of friendship and goodwill.The first western rendez-vous was due to French missionary Armand David, who received its skin from a hunter on 1869. Since then, panda has been one of the most popular animals all over the world. However, Pandas are very sensible to living out of their natural conditions, extra policy, termed 'Panda Diplomacy' was more than necessary. By 1984 those animals have been offered to another nations by Chinese officials only on 10-year loans, charging more than US$ 1,000,000 per year.Summing this, one can say, that at least the animals, however not humans were fine. Most of breeding centers have been reopened the very next day after the earthquake. Pending around currently political accidents, the Chinese government has tight up the national flag only half way and ordered 3 minutes period all over the country to revere victims of the catastrophe.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080513/ap_on_re_as/china_earthquake_pandas;_ylt=AnOsXgRHxeyaZ1YSSixwU1as0NUE

by Milota Sidorova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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