[Commentary] On June 26, the Giant Panda National Park Administration disclosed that the field investigation team of Taibai Mountain Management Branch had encountered a sub-adult wild animal while installing an infrared camera at an altitude of 2,400 meters in Binglinggou, Haitang River, Taibai Mountain. Pandas, this is the first time wild pandas have been photographed in 5 years since the disappearance of giant pandas in the region in 2015, which proves the return of pandas in Binglinggou.
When the investigators were patrolling in the wild, they passed through a forest and heard the sound of broken branches and leaves. They followed the sound and found that a giant panda was moving in the bushes. It also found the team members, and quickly climbed up the big tree beside them, curious He turned his head and looked up.
[Same period] (Shu Jian, Field Investigation Team, Taibai Mountain Management Branch of Giant Panda National Park)
At that time, the panda was 7 or 8 meters away from us. We first met the panda, and then we were a little excited and scared. Worried about disturbing it, we quickly left. After we left, we went back to investigate, and found some paw prints left on the tree, and then collected some fresh panda feces. Just a month ago, we found some traces of panda feeding and some panda feces in the place where we met about 3 kilometers away.
【Explanation】Because of its location in the canyon, the Haitang River Binglinggou area is the most difficult habitat for giant pandas to investigate in Taibai Mountain. The giant pandas here mainly feed on Qinling Arrow Bamboo. Since 1999, spruce bamboos in this area have sporadically blossomed, and by 2015 large amount of daffodils have blossomed and died. In January 2015, after the infrared camera photographed the giant panda feeding on the flowering bamboo, the figure of the giant panda was not captured in five years. The field investigation team found no trace of the giant panda activity. The panda completely disappeared. In the past three years, with the germination of Qinling Arrow Bamboo at different times after flowering and the unflowering bamboo shoots spreading, the bamboo in Binglinggou has been gradually rejuvenated to "satisfy" the panda's feeding status.
[Same period] (Li Xianmin, professor-level senior engineer of Taibai Mountain Management Branch of Giant Panda National Park)
This short period of time after the large area of bamboo blooms, the giant panda returns and is worthy of research and exploration. It also shows that under our protection for many years, the population of giant pandas in Taibai Mountain is increasing and spreading, the damaged habitats are recovering well, and the ecological corridors are connected. At the same time, it also reminds us that the regional edible bamboo is single, which has a great impact on the giant panda after flowering. In the next step, we will continue to track this giant panda, and at the same time continue to monitor the growth of bamboo in the area, explore the regeneration and growth mechanisms of Qinling Arrow Bamboo under different tending methods and strengths, and find the most suitable bamboo forest rejuvenation measures to cope with a single large area The food crisis of the giant panda brought about by the flowering and dying of the bamboo species area.
Reporter Mei Yilong Correspondent Shu Jian reported from Shaanxi
Editor in charge: [Song Fangcan]