File photo shows the Wolongers were saving a panda called "Guoguo" at the Wolong reserve after the devastating earthquake. [China.org.cn]

In spite of such challenges, the Wolongers demonstrated their great spirit through post-quake action. Risking constant aftershocks, they saved the pandas as well as tourists, and transferred over 2,000 people out of the quake-hit area.

Moreover, they have all been affectionate in caring for the frightened pandas. "All the pandas have almost recovered from the trauma both physically and psychologically."

"A big disaster brings real love to the fore. That's really true." Zhang was a little excited: "We received all kinds of donations from the government, non-governmental organizations and people from all walks of life. These social donations, amounting to over 10 million yuan, have been a great support for the reconstruction of panda enclosures as well as the resettlement of the pandas and the staff."

Hope: New Wolong harmony on the way

The reconstruction work will take the needs of people and pandas into consideration, said Zhang.

"On the one hand, all the people have been resettled along the valleys, with medical equipment and schools available; on the other hand, we are returning farmland to bamboo groves so that the pandas can enjoy a more comfortable habitat in the future. There are even more than 1,000 civilians offering their own places of residence to pandas."

More than 2 billion yuan will be invested in reconstruction, including state financial input of 270 million yuan, Sichuan provincial financial investment of 245 million yuan, a counterpart aid fund of over 1.4 billion yuan by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the investment of 150-170 million yuan from Chaozhou City and Jieyang City in Guangdong Province.

"The new China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda will cover an area at least ten times larger than the previous one, since it's very important to provide an extensive free-living space to pandas," said Zhang. "It will feature two major functions. One is for giant panda breeding and research, the other is for artificial breeding and training on reintroduction of giant pandas to the wild."

The whole project is expected to be finished within two to three years. Then, the core panda population will return to the Wolong nature reserve while Bifengxia will still work as a base to spread the increasingly large population of pandas in case of any disease epidemic or natural disasters, according to Zhang.