China Center for Protecting and Research on Giant Pandas, based in southwest China's Sichuan Province, has built an experiment zone to help resume the wild nature of the rare animals.

Statistics show that there are only about 150 giant pandas in captivity in the world. Experts said that most of them have lost their wild nature, and they have difficulties in natural mating.

Tang Chunxiang, a senior engineer with the center, said that his center spent 600,000 yuan to build the semi-wild experiment zone, which covers more than 1,000 square meters in area. The zone now is home to four giant pandas born last year.

Tang said, compared with those giant pandas in cages, the four are more active and energetic, and they have a much better appetite and health.

Ronald Swaisgood, an expert from the United States, said that the experiment can help improve giant pandas' "sexual interests" and mating quality.

The giant panda protection and research center is located in the Sichuan Wolong Nature Reserve. Until now, the center has bred 46 giant pandas, 35 of them have survived.

There are only some 1,000 giant pandas now living in the world, 80 percent of them live in Sichuan.

(People's Daily 10/16/2000)