In early November 2024, staff from the Banfangzi Protection Station of the Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve in Shaanxi discovered two photographs of a giant panda during their analysis of infrared camera data. The images, captured on May 18, 2024, show a giant panda walking along the restored ecological corridor beside the abandoned section of the 108 National Highway in the Qinling Mountains. This marks the first recorded sighting of a giant panda using the ecological corridor along this highway, providing valuable evidence of the effectiveness of conservation efforts in the region.
Previously, on March 12, 2022, and May 1, 2023, the reserve had captured footage of giant pandas in the Sanchidan-Yinliang area east of the 108 National Highway, documenting their activity in that region. The latest findings further indicate that giant pandas are utilizing the Qinling Mountains’ 108 National Highway ecological corridor to gradually expand their range eastward.

The recent photographs not only confirm the ecological benefits of the corridor but also highlight the success of ongoing conservation efforts. In recent years, the reserve has intensified ecological restoration in the area, improving panda habitats, conducting public awareness campaigns, and implementing field monitoring. These efforts have significantly enhanced the regional environment, leading to a steady increase in wildlife populations and activity ranges.
The 108 National Highway, constructed in the 1970s, runs north-south through the heart of the Qinling Mountains, dividing the giant panda population into two isolated groups: the Tianhuashan group to the east and the Xinglongling group to the west, thereby disrupting genetic exchange. With the completion of the Qinling Tunnel in 1999, a 13-kilometer section of the highway crossing the mountain ridge was abandoned. To reconnect the two panda populations, forestry authorities began constructing a panda corridor along the disused road in 2005.
This recent sighting underscores the importance of ecological corridors in enabling wildlife movement and habitat connectivity, further supporting the long-term survival of the Qinling giant panda population.