More pandas are a giant cause for celebration

WILD giant pandas in China are doing well.

The latest census by China’s State Forestry Administration shows the panda population has grown by 268 to 1864 since the last survey ending in 2003.

Nearly three-quarters of the pandas live in the south-western province of Sichuan.

The remaining pandas have been found in neighbouring Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.

“The rise in the population of wild giant pandas is a victory for conservation and definitely one to celebrate,” said Ginette Hemley, senior vice-president of the World Wildlife Fund.

Ms Hemley credited efforts by the Chinese Government for the increase. The survey shows 1246 wild giant pandas live within nature reserves. There are 67 panda reserves in China, an increase of 27 since the last survey.

But the survey also points to economic development as a main threat to the rare animal.

It says 319 hydropower stations and 1339km of roads have been built in the giant panda’s habitat.

China began surveying its giant pandas in the 1970s. The latest census began in 2011 and took three years to complete.

The number of giant pandas in captivity grew by 211, more than double the previous survey figure.

Picture: AP Giant panda Ya Ya plays at a wilderness recovery training base in Foping county, in northwest China's Shaanxi province.