Giant panda recovering from Sichuan quake
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E-mail CRI, May 7, 2013
Ya'an is known as the home of giant pandas. In 1869, French missionary Armand David discovered the giant panda in the city's Baoxing County, after which the black and white bears became known to the world.
There are 61 giant pandas living at the Bifeng Gorge Breeding Base.
Their caretakers have taken various measures to comfort the pandas following the disaster, including close-proximity communication and interaction.
Within each of pandas' enclosures, there is a playground and a small shelter. Thee caretakers have been regularly calling them over to the shelter to have some close-proximity one-on-one time.
Hu Zhengquan, a caretaker says he communicates well with the panda.
"She (panda) understands when you call her name or ask her to perform some simple actions. For example, when you are going to feed her and call her over, she comes to you. If you ask her to sit down, she would do so."
The breeders have also been checking the feces of the giant pandas to check on their health. Hu Zhengquan explains.
"If you break it apart, you can see that it is firm and rigid in shape. If you touch it softly, it loosens. This is called top-grade feces. In this way, you can check on the giant pandas' health."
The Bifengxia base accommodates more than 60 giant pandas and about 30 members of staff. Zhang Guiquan, deputy director of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, says few pandas were frightened by the quake, some climbed trees and others became noticeably restless.
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