China's first museum devoted to giant pandas opened Wednesday in the Wolong nature reserve, where a research center is based and wild pandas live.

The museum's six halls mainly display the history and current state of this endangered species. Protection measures are also featured, including artificial insemination, nature reserves and international cooperation.

With an investment of 20 million yuan (US$2.4 million) by the State Forestry Administration, the museum covers an area of 4,074 square meters.

Surviving for more than three million years, the giant panda isamong the world's species most in need of protection. Wild pandas are found only in China.

The latest survey indicates some 1,000 pandas roam the wild mountains around the southwestern Sichuan basin.

( People's Daily May 22, 2002)