China has established a new giant panda base in Southwest Sichuan, strengthening national efforts in panda breeding, research, and international collaboration. The latest facility brings the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) to a total of five sites across the country.
Located in Mianyang city and spanning roughly 120 hectares, the base began trial operations this week following the relocation of 13 giant pandas. It is expected to welcome visitors next year after the animals adjust to their new surroundings.
“The pandas are still adapting to the unfamiliar environment, but their overall condition is stable,” said Huang Zhi, head of the base’s preparatory team. A team of experienced caretakers has been deployed to monitor the pandas closely during the transition period.
Mianyang holds a key role in panda conservation. According to China’s fourth national panda survey, the region is home to 418 wild giant pandas — the highest number for any prefecture-level city and accounting for around 22.4 percent of the country’s wild population.
China’s progress in panda protection has accelerated significantly over the past four decades. Since the 1980s, captive breeding breakthroughs have seen the panda population grow from just six individuals in 1983 to more than 380 today.
