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 habitat of 80% of the world's remaining wild pandas. WWF needs urgent support from the public for the post-disaster reconstruction efforts to save the affected pandas and their environment.

To support our efforts in saving the panda, people now can make donations by:

• Online donation: www.wwf.org.hk/savethepanda
• Calling our donation hotline: 2864 1411

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, while the total wild panda population is only about 1,600. Also, at least 86 of WWF's 110 panda projects on the ground have been seriously disrupted.

"Thanks to efforts of Chinese government on various levels and other related organizations including WWF, the past 20 years has seen exciting accomplishment that has remarkably protected the population and habitat of the unique species in China. It is a serious blow to the panda conservation efforts over the years and poses mounting threat in the aftermath of such an unforeseen natural disaster," said Zhu Chunquan, Head of Conservation Operations of WWF-China. WWF started its panda conservation work from Wolong in early 1980s and is the first international NGO working there. Among the severely-affected areas include Minshan, Qionglai and Qinling landscapes where WWF has focused on panda and their habitat protection by helping build nature reserve capacity, implementing joint monitoring and patrol, habitat restoration and livelihood programme for local communities.

Since the 8.0 magnitude earthquake in May, WWF has led discussions, 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 repair and reconstruct the facilities and capacity of affected panda nature reserves, institute "green reconstruction guideline" and demonstration project, prevent conversion of forests to agricultural areas, and additional poaching of wildlife by offering emergency relief and support to local communities. However, these can only be achieved with the public support.