A newborn panda cub sleeps in an incubator at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province July 26. The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species and is found only in China.

An estimated 1,600 wild pandas live in nature reserves in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, and 217 are kept in captivity. The panda, together with Tibetan antelope, swallow, fish and the spirit of the Olympic flame are represented by the five stylized doll mascots for the 2008 Olympic games.

(China Daily July 27, 2007)