The number of wild giant pandas in southwest China's Sichuan has risen in the past decade, according to figures released by the provincial forestry department.

There are 1,387 wild pandas in Sichuan, up 15 percent compared to ten years ago. They account for 74.4 percent of the country's total wild panda population.

The pandas are scattered across 37 counties, over an area of more than 2 million hectares.

The number of captive pandas in Sichuan stands at 364, accounting for 86.3 percent of all captive pandas nationwide.

By the end of 2015, 46 nature reserves for giant pandas had been set up in the province.

More reserves and parks for giant pandas will be set up in the next five years, said Luo Jianguo, chief engineer with the department.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2016)