China launches operation to free pandas into wild

[Playinghardball]

China on Wednesday released six young captive pandas into semi-wild enclosures as part of a project aimed at helping the endangered bears adapt to the wild and eventually go free.

Previous attempts by Chinese authorities to release pandas into the wild have proved unsuccessful. The last bear that was set free in 2006 was found dead after 10 months, apparently killed by wild pandas.

This time round, scientists are releasing the six pandas in stages in a bid to increase their chances of survival, as they try and bring the number of endangered bears in the wild up from the current 1,590.

On Wednesday, Xing Rong, Xing Ya, Gong Zai, Ying Ying, Zhi Zhiand Qi Qi – aged between two and four — ambled slowly into their new enclosures in the southwestern province of Sichuan to the flash of cameras.

More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/11/china-launches-operation-to-free-pandas-into-wild/

[Ian David]

1. I, for one, welcome our new, Panda Overlords. n/t