The drop in the number of wild giant pandas, a rare animal species which lived in the same period with dinosaurs, has been effectively curbed thanks to China's diligent efforts to protect the creatures, sources with the Ministry of Forestry said.

A survey carried out this year shows that China currently has about 1,000 giant pandas in the wild, most of them living on the mountains around the Sichuan Basin, southwest China, said Wang Zhibao, vice-minister of forestry.

He said China currently has 27 giant panda protection zones, and the protection work has been going on smoothly in 32 counties that are habitats of the rare animals.

According to the official, the Ministry of Forestry has allocated a total of 70 million yuan ( US$ 8.43million) to protect the giant pandas. As a result, 95 percent of the wild pandas are safe and the drop in their number has been effectively curbed.

Giant pandas, which have survived for more than 8 million years, are regarded as "national treasures" by the Chinese people.

The rare creatures used to be found everywhere on the mountains in central and south China, and in Myanmar and Vietnam. However, their living space has shrunk markedly and they are on the verge of extinction due to the climatic changes and human activities.

The Chinese government is keeping close tabs on the giant panda situation, the general public and international community have also demonstrated keen interest in saving the species.

China established its first giant panda protection zone in the 1950s and banned poaching of the creatures in 1957. China put the rare animals under first-class state protection in 1962.

In 1992, the Chinese government kicked off a comprehensive project to protect giant pandas and their habitats.

Chinese scientists have used artificial methods to help the animals reproduce. According to statistics, since the Beijing Zoo bred the first panda in 1963, China has artificially-bred 96 giant pandas; 61 of them have survived.

To save the rare animals, people across China have worked alongside the Chinese government to protect them. They donate money and there have been reports about people saving sick pandas.

At the same time, the Chinese government has cooperated with international organizations and foreign governments to find better ways to protect the endangered rare animals.

Statistics show that at present, the number of giant pandas in captivity in the world is about 110; two-thirds of them are living in the Wolong Giant Panda Protection Center and Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base, both located in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

(People's Daily 08/16/2001)