A week-old panda cub has become more privileged than most Chinese children after receiving a special birthday gift -- its own blog.

 

Born at a breeding center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the cub is more privileged than most Chinese children as its first steps and other aspects of its growth will be monitored daily.

 

The blog, under the name of "Baby Panda Home", debuted on Monday on the Sina website, and experts on panda protection hope the public will be curious to take a close look at the world of the endangered animal.

 

"We hope to raise public awareness, especially among young people, of panda protection by this new and popular means," said Zhang Zhihe, head of the Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan and one of the blog instigators.

 

The female cub, who was still unnamed, was personified as a blogger posting stories about her growth, her family and other pandas in the center, said Zhang.

 

Internet users can also view pictures and videos of the pandas on the blog at http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/1250332025.

 

The articles would also be posted every Monday on Chengdu Daily, a sponsor of the blog, said Zhang, adding the blog would continue for the panda's lifetime.

 

An estimated 1,590 pandas exist worldwide, mainly distributed in China's Sichuan and Shanxi provinces, and they usually live for around 25 years.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2006)