China’s Panda Reserves

An Adult panda munches bamboo. This attractive black and white mammal has widespread human appeal and has become a symbol for conservation efforts both within China and internationally as the symbol of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Today there may be no more than 1,000 giant pandas left in the wild, restricted to a few mountain strongholds in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu.

The panda is something of a zoological mystery. Its closest relative is the smaller red panda with whom it shares its range. The red panda’s striking appearance indicates the close relationship between pandas and the raccoon family. There is also strong evidence, however, that giant pandas are related to the bears.

Today pandas are only found at high altitude, wandering the broadleaf forests and subalpine woodlands.

Only occasionally are they found in the lower mixed broadleaf forests for these are the areas most accessible to and disturbed by Man.

The panda’s mountain home is rich in plant life and gave us many of the trees, shrubs and herbs most prized in European gardens. Species like this mountain rhododendron were collected by 19th century botanists and shipped back to Europe for horticultural collections.

The adult pandas at the centre sleep in cages and are fed a well-balanced and nutritious diet; many have been nursed back to health from the brink of starvation. They also have access to a large outdoor compound where they can roam among natural vegetation in semi-wild conditions.

中国大熊猫保护区

    一只成年熊猫大口咀嚼着竹子。这个吸引人的黑白相间的哺乳动物对人们有着普遍的吸引力[1]  ，并且在中国国内已经成为保护工作的象征，而在国际上，它作为世界自然基金会（World Wide Fund for Nature or WWF）的标志也成为保护工作的象征[2]  。

今天，大概还剩下不超过1000只大熊猫生活在野外[3]  ，它们被圈禁在位[4]  于中国的四川省、陕西省和甘肃省的一些山区据点[5]  。

熊猫有着动物学中的神奇 [6]  。与它血[7]  缘关系最近的是与它生活在同一分布区的那种体型小一些的小熊猫[8]  。小熊猫显著的外形[9]  表明了它和熊猫的近亲关系，同时标示出它属于浣熊家族[10]  。然而，也有[11]  大熊猫和熊有关系[12]  的有力证据。

今天，只能在高海拔地区发现 [13]  熊猫，它们漫步[14]  在阔叶林区和亚高山带林地[15]  。

在海拔低一些的混合阔叶林区仅能偶尔发现它们 [16]  ，因为这些地方是人类最易接近[17]  ，也最受人类打[18]  扰的区域。

熊猫的山区家园[19]  有着丰富的植物[20]  ，给予我们大量的树木、灌木和在欧洲花园中最珍贵的草本植物[21]  。在十九世纪，植物学家就收集了这些物种如山杜鹃[22]  ，并且把它们运回欧洲作为园艺收藏品。

在保护中心的成年熊猫于笼中熟睡并且喂有均衡又营养的饮食； [23]  许多已经从饥饿的边缘调养到健康状态[24]  。它们也可以进入[25]  广阔的户外圈地[26]  ，在那里它们可以在半野生条件下漫步在自然植被中[27]  。