Baby boom for giant pandas in China

A record 21 pandas survived after being born using artificial insemination in China last year, state media said on Monday as scientists hailed the program me aimed at saving the endangered species.

A record 21 pandas survived after being born using artificial insemination in China last year, state media said on Monday as scientists hailed the program me aimed at saving the endangered species.

Despite the early deaths of a few babies, 21 cubs survived after being conceived through breeding programs, the Xinhua news agency said, citing statistics released by the state forestry administration (SFA).

The birth and survival rate was attributed to Chinese scientists, who have developed techniques after years of research on how to keep China’s most treasured animal and one of the world’s most endangered species from dying out.

Artificial fertilisation led to the birth of nine cubs in 2000, 12 in 2001, 10 in 2002 and 15 in 2003, according to official statistics. Figures were not given for 2004. The technique has boosted the number of giant pandas from 1,114 before 2000 to the present 1,596, living in habitats covering more than 23,000 square kilometres, statistics show.

Giant pandas show little interest in sex while in captivity, and artificial insemination is routinely used to increase the panda population.

HT Image