Giant panda recovering from Sichuan quake
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E-mail CRI, May 7, 2013
Officials with the Wolong Nature Reserve in Sichuan are suggesting the giant pandas at the facility, which is located near the epicenter of last month's deadly earthquake in Lushan County, are starting to recover from the shock of the quake.
None of the animals were hurt.
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Two panda cubs play in the Bifengxia sub-center of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province in April 2013. [Photo/Xinhua] |
The Bifengxia sub-center of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center is located 50 kilometers away from the earthquake's epicenter Lushan County in Ya'an City, Sichuan Province. And none of the rare animals have found to be suffering from post-quake trauma.
Caretakers at the sub-center have been on a 24-hour alert since the quake and they are ready all the time for any emergency situation involving the pandas.
Wang Chengdong, head of Animal Management at the Bifengxia Panda Breeding Center explains.
"Veterinary staff are also on duty around the clock. If any aftershock occurs or any of the giant pandas run away, we will immediately respond."
Apart from aftershocks, the management of the center is also concerned of other natural disasters like mudslides that often occur in the Ya'an region during the ongoing flood season. They could block roads in the region and lead shortages of food and other supplies. The recent earthquake has increase the possibility of mudslides.
To prepare for such a scenario, a larger amount of fresh bamboo shoots, apples and carrots, all favorites of the giant pandas, have been stored in the base's refrigerator.
"These foods will come in handy if road traffic is obstructed. In addition, we have stored a concentrated supply of food which will last for a month. We have also located emergency roads."
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