Wolong National Nature Reserve

In June 1980, the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda was established. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Chinese government cooperated to establish the center. Researchers have made trials on how to breed the giant pandas. They have successfully bred 66 panda cubs.

A mountain stream runs through the Wolong Valley (where the Reserve is); the stream is heavily armoured with boulders and smaller rounded stones. Stream waters are rather alkaline with pH levels in the range of 8.91. (Hogan, 2007) Water quality turbidity is quite high due to extensive sand and gravel mining in stream.Hogan C.M. & Lumina Tech 2007. Environmental analysis of the Wolong National Nature Reserve.

According to a 2001 research by Dr. Jianguo Liu of Michigan State University, the rate of destruction is higher after the reserve's creation than before its creation. Using NASA's satellite images and records of the number of people there, Liu's research team concluded that due to tourism and the increase in the number of people, the reserve is facing an unprecedented threat. "Tourists do not think they have an impact on panda habitat, but indirectly each visitor has some impact," Liu said. "We do not see ourselves as a destructive force, but we are."(April 6, 2001). Endangered Pandas Not Safe in Chinese Nature Reserve , Environment News Service.

 References 

 Other websites 
 Giant panda cubs at Wolong National Nature Reserve
 Wolong Panda Club 
 Dutch informational website about Wolong 

Category:Biosphere reserves
Category:Geography of the People's Republic of China