China to teach pandas to survive in the wild

China to teach pandas to survive in the wild China plans to build a center where giant pandas born in captivity will be trained to survive in the wild, state media reported Thursday.

Giant pandas are among the world's most endangered species. Some 1,600 pandas live in the wild, while more than 300 pandas are raised in captivity in China.

Zookeepers hope to slowly train pandas to reduce their dependency on humans. In the initial five to 10 years, they will still live in cages in the experimental zone. After that, pandas that adapt well will switch over to living in caves and be trained to forage for food, but they will still receive frequent checkups and participate in artificial breeding.

From there, they will transition to living in a largely "natural" zone with little human contact, before being released into the nearby large natural reserve, Zhang said. The entire process would require a minimum of 15 years, he said.

China had started a giant panda training project in 2003 to teach the animals to live in the wild, but that project suffered a big setback. Xiang Xiang, a male panda who had been trained for three years, was found dead in a remote part of the Wolong Nature Reserve in 2007, a year after he had been released into the wild.

 

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- Posted on May 20, 2010
Submitted by Rkalmbach14 on Monday, 02/06/2012 - 13:56.

I think that it is good to teach pandas how to survive in the wild!! but hunters go out and kill the pandas that's why they have a very little amount left but i think that they will try harder to protect the panda's know
because of what happened before. All i hope for is that they will be safe!

Submitted by Michelle1420 on Wednesday, 11/30/2011 - 15:26.

I think that it is so cool that China is teaching panda bears to learn how to survive on their very own..even if pandas can survive on their own, i think that it is good that the zoo keepers are still going to be checking on them..

Submitted by jeffisawsome123 on Wednesday, 11/30/2011 - 10:57.

Man how can a chinese person person teach a panda how to get back to the wildlife and learn panda talk man that is just so cool people can teach pandas how to get back too the wildlife.I wish i could teach a panda how to get back to the wildlife.It would be so awsome to teach them how to get to the wildlife like any animal.

Submitted by Love15 on Tuesday, 11/22/2011 - 16:49.

1. main point- The main point of this article is that panda bears that were born in captivity are being trained to survive in the wild.

2. Affecting me- This affects me today because pandas are my favorite animal and I want them not to go extinct. I think this is good so more pandas can go back to there natural habitat.

3. Future- This might affect me in the future because pandas might not go extinct because of this program and other programs.

Submitted by aross200 on Friday, 11/11/2011 - 13:58.

I am so happy for these pandas! Pandas are actually my very favorite animals. (Believe it or not) my sister is actually in China. (At this very moment) she teaches chinese people about Jesus (like a missionary)! I am very, very happy for my sister, these pandas and definately for China! Just imagine living in a hot and weak (no offense) place for a whole year! (Sorry, I forgot to mension that my sister is going to be in China for a whole year.)

Submitted by Angelica9944 on Thursday, 10/06/2011 - 14:42.

i love panadas i hope they dont be instinced.there so cute and fluffy i for got y there endangerd??? ive never seen a panda only on pics.

Submitted by shirleyzxy on Saturday, 10/01/2011 - 23:33.

Pandas are China’s national treasures and I think it is a good idea for teach pandas to survive in the wild place. They have to know how to survive by themselves and after that, people may let them go.

Submitted by shirleyzxy on Monday, 09/26/2011 - 22:13.

Pandas are China's national treasure and I think it is a good idea to teach pandas to survive in the wild. They have to know how to survive by themselves and after that, maybe people will let them go.

Submitted by sam_2012 on Friday, 09/23/2011 - 11:55.

I think that would be a good idea to teach pandas how to live out in the wild if the live in a zoo or something. Because if they learn how to, the zoo's will be able to let them go if they need to.

Submitted by JULIUSJ120 on Monday, 09/19/2011 - 22:27.

Animals: I think that it is a great idea that Chinese zoo keepers are teaching pandas to survive in the wild. Most pandas don't survive in the wild because sometimes they are eaten by animals or they are being hunted by poachers. The zoo keepers will slowly train pandas to reduce their dependency on humans. Pandas are the most endangered animals this might help some pandas survive all the dangers they are in and maybe this might help them repopulate.