Focus: Sichuan Earthquake and Giant Pandas
 

  • Panda back at center
    A giant panda which went missing from a major panda base in southwest Sichuan province after the May 12 earthquake was captured at 11:20 am yesterday.
    The panda, named Xi Xi, was found in the woods about 200 m downstream from a river near the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in Wolong.
    It was anesthetized and sent back to the center, staff at the center said yesterday. A total of six pandas in the Wolong center disappeared after the quake, but four later returned. Another one is still missing.

    News Source: China Daily
    2008-05-27 07:35
     

  • Two pandas remain missing after quake
    (Xinhua)
    Chengdu -- One of the three previously-reported missing giant pandas from Wolong breeding center in southwestern Sichuan Province has returned safely and two others remain missing.
    Staff members with the China Wolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, where more than 60 pandas were raised, are searching for the two missing pandas, Xiong Beirong, an official with the provincial forestry bureau told Xinhua.

    News Source: China Daily
    2008-05-20 16:23
     

  • On May 12, 2008, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on Richter scale hit Sichuan Province at 14: 28, with its epicenter in Wenchuan County. China Conservation Research Center for Giant Panda and Wolong Giant Panda Club are located near the epicenter. Fortunately, friends and colleagues there are not injured. However, infrastructure was destroyed and local communities are still challenged by resource shortage. The reserve has built a team to coordinate earthquake rescue efforts. Let’s bless the survivors, and giant pandas.

    Virtual Science Museums of China
    May.15th, 2008
     

  • Giant pandas in Wolong Nature Reserve are fine after Monday's earthquake, according to Sichuan Forestry Department, and have been moved to a safe place.

    May.14th, 2008
     

  • The PandaCam is not accessible now because of a  internet problem at Wolong Nature Reserve caused by Wenchuan earthquake. If you have any comments, please contact us at wrq@cnic.cn.

    Click "What Happened?" to watch archieved videos.

    May.12th, 2008


Emails received after the earthquake

  • My thoughts and prayers are with all of you and our precious pandas in Wolong. I know that everyone is working very hard to take care of the pandas, as well as take care of themselves and their families. I am checking everyday to see what the status is at the Reserve.
    I was at the Reserve in April of 2007 and I know now that I will never see the Reserve as it was then. I hope that the panda I held, "Qian Qian" is safe and was happy to learn that one of the pandas that was missing has returned. Hopefully, the others will be home soon.
    Mr. Yang, I hope you and your family are well and I look forward to seeing you in the near future.

    Gail Chapman
    Melissa, Texas USA
    May.22th, 2008
     

  • To everyone at Wolong – a huge HELLO!
    At last I find some news on the Panda Club website – thank you! I was a volunteer at Wolong last September and I have been so distressed for you all and the pandas. There are so many terrible reports in the news I did not know what had happened at the Panda centre. I pray for everyone and hope that you will receive all you need to sustain the Panda Centre staff and pandas. I would like to send a donation for you but do not know where to do this with a credit card and know that you will receive it. Please let me know so I can help at least in some small way. I cannot say how sad I feel at the great loss of life and tremendous suffering the province has had with the earthquake – it is such an immense tragedy. I hope that Yang, who was my ‘teacher’ on my visit, is ok and his family and how is little Duo Duo with whom I had my photo taken….and everyone???? I send my prayers and my love to you all in the hope that you will be able to recover from this terrible disaster.

    Bye for now,
    Debbie Barker from Australia
    May.20th, 2008
     

  • This is George Bradbury from Surprise, Arizona - I have visited there many times and sponsored Peony for years. Please let me know what I can do to help when you begin your recovery from the Earthquake. Money - equipment - whatever - please let me know. I am connected to veterinarian groups here in Arizona and we all want to help in whatever you may need. We had plans to visit again during the Olympic period as we are in China from July 27 to August 31. We realize that situations now may cause this to be postponed but if you need help then as well we are willing to come and help however you may need. I have one Naturalpathic Doctor with us then as well. In short whatever we can do to help please advise.
    Please take care of yourselves and the Panda's.
    Sincerely,

    George L. Bradbury IV
    May.15th, 2008
     

  • What about the pandas in the wild do you know if they were effected by the
    quake.

    Karen M. Jones
    May.14th, 2008
     

  • I've been to the Wolong panda reserve and was deeply moved by everyone
    there. I just wanted you all to know that there are thousands of us thinking
    about you all and the pandas during this time.
    I look forward to viewing the panda cam again, because it will mean
    everything's okay.
    Good luck. Please let me know how to help.

    Josie Leavitt
    May.13th, 2008
     

  • Dear Panda care personnel - my thoughts are with you during these very, very
    difficult times. I hope everyone is safe, people and animals, and one day we
    can all once again enjoy our precious pandas.

    Elke
    May.13th, 2008