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Panda protection zones upgraded in NW China to reduce fragmentation

Xinhua, January 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

Two provincial giant panda protection zones in northwest China's Gansu Province have been upgraded to state-level zones, the provincial forestry authority said over the weekend.

Gansu Province is home to 132 giant pandas, according to a survey conducted in 2015, and one of three major habitats for the endangered animal in China.

Despite the rising number of giant pandas in the region, their survival is at risk due to habitat depletion, which limits their mobility, and puts their fertility and survival at risk in the long run.

Such fragmentation is caused by both natural issues and disruption by human activities, such as roads, hydro-power stations and high voltage cables and posts. Giant pandas in the province have been divided into four groups, two of which are facing elevated survival risks, the survey shows.

One of the two protection zones boasts large quantities of bamboo, making it ideal for the pandas. The other is also home to other endangered species including golden monkeys and takins. Endi