As a national treasure of China, the giant panda is widely recognized both domestically and internationally. To protect this rare species, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (hereafter referred to as the “Panda Center”) and other organizations have established several bases in Sichuan, focusing on panda rescue, breeding, wild reintroduction, and scientific research. Recently, reporters from Global Times visited various Panda Center bases, including Wolong Walnut Flat and Shenshuping, to closely observe and document China’s achievements in panda scientific research and conservation management.
Chinese Innovation: The “Mother with Cubs” Wild Training Model
Since the release of the fourth national panda survey in 2015, the wild panda population and habitat area have grown. Currently, there are about 1,900 wild giant pandas, but they are spread across different regions, with some populations having fewer than 30 individuals. Protecting these populations in their current locations proves difficult, which is why China has launched a wild reintroduction project. The Panda Center pioneered the technique of captive panda wild reintroduction, which involves three stages: training, release, and monitoring.
Unlike ordinary visitors, Global Times reporters had a tough yet intriguing experience getting up close to the giant pandas. The Walnut Flat base is the only one among the Panda Center’s four bases that is not open to the public. In late November, temperatures were very low at this base. Following a narrow, steep trail, reporters passed through a locked gate leading to the panda wild training area. As the reporters and the panda keeper climbed to find the panda “Huihui” and her cub, the path became steeper and the soil softer. Dense bamboo forests and tall trees lined the trail, where squirrels busily hopped around, seemingly unconcerned by human presence.

“Huihui” and her cub were the main subjects of this visit. The cub was transferred to Tiantai Mountain for the second stage of wild training in May, at about 10 months old. The cub, upon sensing danger, could climb high trees and hover there for extended periods.
Panda keeper Mu Shijie, who has worked in panda wild training and reintroduction for many years, explained: “In the early stages, we tried to train pandas by feeding them in the wild, but faced many challenges. We eventually developed the ‘mother with cubs’ model. The selection of the mother panda is crucial; ideally, she should have wild survival experience, enough wild instincts, and the ability to protect herself and teach the cub essential skills.”
The key to this process is avoiding close contact between the cubs and humans. When caring for cubs, staff members wear “panda suits,” which are designed to cover human scents by using panda urine and feces.
When the cubs are ready for release, they wear electronic collars that can track their movements and health via satellite signals. After about a year and a half, the collars naturally fall off, and additional data collection is carried out using infrared cameras and fecal sampling.
As of June this year, the Panda Center had successfully released 11 captive-bred pandas, nine of which survived, with seven integrating into the endangered Xiaoxiangling wild population and two into the Minshan mountain wild population.
Expanding the Captive Panda Population
Recently, Global Times reporters visited the Shenshuping base, home to “Fubao,” a panda that returned from South Korea in April. Fubao has become a star panda, attracting many fans eager to see her. Captive pandas like Fubao not only fulfill the public’s desire to observe pandas up close but also play an essential role in scientific research. Wild reintroduction helps to revitalize small, endangered wild panda populations and increase genetic diversity, while captive breeding contributes to expanding the overall panda population.
Though called panda keepers, staff members such as Lang Shunjun from Hong Kong emphasize that their job is not just to feed the pandas but to manage their diets scientifically. The daily diet includes “wo tou,” a specially formulated nutritional cake. Keepers also monitor panda behavior, meal patterns, and waste output, adjusting their diet according to the panda’s age and food intake.
In one interview, a keeper brought in a bag of panda feces for analysis. “We monitor the panda’s health through fecal, urine, and blood tests,” Lang explained. “We don’t treat pandas like pets. We avoid close contact, playing, or petting them.” Keepers also ensure that pandas retain their wild instincts by providing trees and logs for climbing.

The Significance of Panda Conservation Beyond the Species
China’s panda conservation efforts go beyond protecting the panda itself. In October 2021, the Panda National Park was officially established across the main panda habitats in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu, covering an area of 22,000 square kilometers. This not only provides a healthy living environment for pandas but also promotes the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature.
Guo Denglu, a member of the female patrol team at the Dujiangyan area of the national park, noted that since the park’s establishment, the ecosystem has improved, with wild boars, golden monkeys, squirrels, and other species flourishing. According to Liu Bo, head of the Hongkou Conservation Station in Dujiangyan, the national park has enhanced wild panda visibility, with infrared cameras recording 16 wild pandas in the Dujiangyan area alone.
International Cooperation in Panda Conservation
China’s panda protection success has become a model for global biodiversity conservation. Li Desheng, Deputy Director and Chief Expert of the Panda Center, highlighted that international cooperation in panda research has been ongoing since 1994, with China collaborating with 20 countries and 26 institutions. This cooperation has not only benefited panda conservation but has also promoted the protection of other endangered species.
Li emphasized that ensuring the well-being of pandas abroad is a key priority in international collaborations. Institutions borrowing pandas must meet strict standards for their care, and they are required to submit regular health assessments to ensure the pandas are well cared for.
China’s achievements in panda conservation have attracted international attention, with South Korea’s Seoul News reporting in late November that the panda population structure continues to improve, with pandas now classified as “vulnerable” rather than “endangered.”