OVERSEAS LIFE: A giant panda in the San Diego Zoo in the United States

Huang Shiqiang, senior engineer of the Beijing Zoo said, at that time pandas were sent overseas for free. They played the role of goodwill ambassadors and were treated with privileges. For example, he said, when Lingling was pregnant in 1983, 90 experts were sent to look after her with 24-hour care. And when Lingling died in 1997, a monument was set up, praising her for having "brought joy to millions of tourists."

In accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, in 1982 China stopped sending pandas to other countries. But greater number of countries and institutions are saying they would like to host giant pandas. In 1983, Dr. Armand Harmer, then President of Occidental Petroleum in the United States, made a request during his first visit to China to then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, saying he hoped two giant pandas from China could help to heighten the atmosphere of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles where the headquarters of the company is located. Deng agreed to his request. And so giant pandas went abroad again in a way of lending.

Then the China Wildlife Conservation Association made an agreement with international animal protection organizations: If China sent a couple of healthy and fertile giant pandas abroad they could stay in the host country for 10 years for collaborative research. The country should pay $1 million a year for giant panda protection and research. Descendants of the pandas were to remain vested in China, dead bodies included.

"We have made a long-term commitment for the protection of this lovely animal," said Dr. Ron Swaisgood, co-head of the Giant Panda Protection Department of San Diego Zoo. Since the first panda arrived at the zoo in 1996, five baby pandas had been born and reared there.

"Together with the giant panda breeding base in Wolong, we have helped to enlarge the giant panda population, and have overcome difficulties in cub mortality. We are also very proud we have begun to uncover some of the mysteries of panda protection cooperating with the CAS," said Dr. Swaisgood.

The China Giant Panda Breeding Technology Committee says 20 giant pandas have been successfully bred this year around the world. The current population of captive giant pandas is more than 300 worldwide, which means the species will maintain 90 percent of its genetic diversity in the coming 100 years. On the basis of this number of captive pandas, they will continue to produce further generations in a completely self-contained manner.

This does not mean, however, the panda has been removed from the list of endangered species.

"According to minimum viable population theory, 300 giant pandas in captivity worldwide is the bottom line for a self-sustaining population, but the population quality needs to be improved," said Tang Chunxiang, senior engineer of CCRCGP in Wolong. The current focus of giant panda breeding research is no longer the increase of the numbers, but soundness of rearing by strengthening genetic management and reproduction control.