| CHENGDU, May 8 (Xinhuanet) --
China is expected to build the world's largest giant panda museum in Chengdu,
the capital of southwestern Sichuan Province, an official of the Chengdu Giant
Panda Breeding and Research Base said Sunday.
The 5
 |
| Two pandas play together at the Wolong
Panda Research Centre in Sichuan Province. China plans to build a new
giant panda museum which aims to be the biggest of its kind to introduce
efforts to save the endangered animal and its habitat. [AFP]
| ,000-centiare museum, named China Giant Panda Museum,
willbe located in the breeding and research base, the official said.
The management of the base has decided on the design
of the museum after reviewing designs submitted by domestic and overseas
designers.
The museum will serve as a venue for promoting
awareness about giant panda protection and the relevant knowledge of giant
pandas as a rare species, the official said.
A similar museum was built in the Wolong Giant Panda
Nature Reserve in the province in 2002.
As one of the most ancient and endangered species,
giant panda is called "national gem" in China. The total population of wild
giant pandas at large worldwide stands at about 1,500, dwelling inhigh mountain
areas of China.
China built its first natural preserve for giant
pandas and started to ban poaching in the 1950s. The pandas have been placed
under state protection in the past 43 years since 1962. Enditem
|
Breaking
News 
