China has succeeded in artificially breeding more than 100 endangered giant pandas since the first such bred cub was born in 1963 in Beijing Zoo, according to the latest report from China's State Forestry Administration.

Both Yang Yang and Long Hui, two agile cubs that will leave their home in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Thursday for Vienna on a 10-year loan, were conceived through artificial insemination -- two of 100 such bred pandas in the country.

By 2002, the artificially bred baby panda's chance for survival in Sichuan had improved from less than 30 percent to 90 percent, according to Zhang Guiquan, vice-director of the China Giant Panda Protection Center.

Last year, Chinese scientists succeeded in cloning the giant panda's reproductive hormone gene, which they hope will improve the animal's ability to breed in captivity.

In addition to improving the panda's reproductive rate, scientists have put in place aggressive programs to protect those living in the wild.

About 1,000 of the rare species live in Sichuan, northwest China's Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, where more than 40 reserves have been established.

In Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu, the area of nature reserves totals 16,200 square kilometers, said Zhang.

Meanwhile, the government's efforts on environmental protection have paid off with an increase in pandas' habitats.

Nearly 20 corridors were built to connect isolated reserves by artificial forests and help pandas living in different areas communicate with each other so as to increase breeding opportunities.

Legal moves to protect the giant panda were first made in 1957 and poaching and destruction of their habitats are illegal in China.

The giant panda protection center has created a semi-wild condition for giant pandas in captivity to live and prepare to return to the wild, said Zhang.

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2003)