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WWF is urgently seeking donations to help WWF's team in China to save the earthquake panda victims. The recent earthquake in China, and the subsequent aftershocks, have had a severe impact on the habitats of 80% of the world's remaining wild pandas. Over 86 of WWF's 110 panda projects in nature reserves have been affected and halted.
Pushed almost to extinction, there are only around 1,600 giant pandas left in the wild, with approximately another 400 in nature reserves. According to the State Forestry Administration, 49 panda reserves, or 83% of the total panda habitats, were affected by the quake. The affected panda reserves are the home to about 1,400 wild pandas, counting over 80% of total wild panda populations.
The earthquake also devastated the local communities who live in the reserves and who are critical to panda protection.
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© WWF-Canon / Claire DOOLE |
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WWF has led discussions with government and other conversation organizations, exploring ways to reconstruct the panda nature reserves affected by the quake, and promote natural habitat for the pandas' survival. Our priorities for the coming six months are to reconstruct the panda nature reserves, prevent conversion of forests to agricultural areas and additional poaching of pandas by offering emergency relief and support to local communities. WWF is urgently seeking donations to help WWF's teams in China for these efforts.
And, we need to continue our work with local government authorities to address the immediate needs of the reserve staff and local people who are vital to ensure the survival of the giant panda.
WWF started its panda conservation work from Wolong in early 1980s and is the first international NGO working there saving the giant pandas. Since we have been there, we have increased nature reserves in the panda habitat from just 13 to over 50. Significantly, our conservation projects have played a vital role in increasing the giant panda population by 40%.
We have implemented practical programs to reduce poaching of pandas, promoted ecotourism, which lessens the impact on panda habitat and provides an alternative source of income for local communities. And we've helped to vastly improve the way nature reserves are monitored and patrolled, which also reduces illegal logging and poaching.
 We've come so far in less than 30 years ¡V it would be absolutely devastating to lose it all now, in the aftermath of such an unforeseen natural disaster |
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