China News Network Chengdu, April 4 -- The China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center issued a note on the cooperation with the Smithsonian National Zoo on the 7th on the relevant situation of the giant panda research in the United States. It is reported that in the past few days, netizens have paid great attention to the life and health of the giant pandas "Meixiang", "Tian Tian" and "Little Miracle" of the Smithsonning National Zoo in the United States. The China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center recently sent experts to the Smithsonian National Zoo. After on-site verification by experts, the giant panda breeding management and disease prevention and control of the Smithsonian National Zoo all meet the standards and requirements of giant panda breeding management and health management, and the giant pandas "Meixiang", "Tiantian" and "Little Miracle" are generally in good health.
Giant panda "Mei Xiang" in the outdoor sports field. Photo courtesy of China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center
The note released by the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center on the cooperation with the Smithsonian National Zoo on the situation of the giant panda research said:
1. Feeding management
The Smithsonian National Zoo is staffed by a professional breeding management team and veterinary team. In addition to providing bamboo and an appropriate amount of bamboo shoots to pandas every day, fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots and complementary foods such as high-fiber biscuits are provided according to different seasons to ensure a balanced intake of food and nutrition. The type, quantity and quality of food provided by the zoo for giant pandas are in line with the management standards for giant panda breeding.
The begging behavior of giant pandas reported by netizens is actually the expectation of giant pandas for keepers. Under the conditions of artificial captivity, the giant panda and the keeper get along for a long time, establish a good interaction and trust relationship, and when the keeper calls or comes, it will respond, which is also a manifestation of the health of the giant panda.
Giant pandas "Tian Tian" eat bamboo. Photo courtesy of China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center
2. Health conditions
The veterinary team at the Smithsonian National Zoo regularly conducts physical examinations and health assessments of giant pandas. At present, "Little Miracle" is in good health, good growth and development, and has weighed more than 90kg. The common diseases of elderly giant pandas, such as hypertension and arthritis in the giant pandas "Mei Xiang" and "Tiantian", have been well controlled under the professional treatment and careful care of the Smitsonning National Zoo; Ascites is more common in elderly giant pandas, "Meixiang" has mild ascites, which has been effectively controlled after treatment, and health monitoring will continue to be strengthened.
Giant panda "Meixiang" outdoor sports field environment. Photo courtesy of China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center
3. Breeding situation
Since the birth of "Little Miracle" in 2020, China and the United States have made it clear that giant pandas "Mei Xiang" and "Tian Tian" no longer participate in breeding, and the Smithsonian National Zoo has no longer carried out artificial sperm collection and artificial insemination operations on giant pandas "Mei Xiang" and "Tian Tian". The giant panda "Little Miracle" is not yet an adult, and its growth and development are not yet mature, and it cannot yet participate in breeding.
Giant panda "Mei Xiang" in the outdoor sports field. Photo courtesy of China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center
Fourth, the situation of enrichment
The Smithsonian National Zoo tried to simulate the giant panda habitat environment to build a giant panda house. The museum is equipped with facilities that can individually control temperature and humidity, and the outer sports field is equipped with spray facilities, air-conditioned caves, rocks, trees, and perches for giant pandas to climb. At the same time, the panda house also increases the richness of the environment by hanging plump feeders, snacks and toys.
Over the past 22 years, China and the United States have carried out fruitful cooperation in giant panda conservation and management, breeding and breeding, scientific research, disease prevention and control, and public education. The two sides have cooperated in breeding 4 giant panda cubs, published hundreds of scientific research papers, and jointly held a number of academic exchange and training activities. The Smithsonyen National Zoo visits more than 200 million visitors every year, and online and offline public education covers hundreds of millions of people worldwide, promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and foreign people.
The China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center said in the fact sheet: We really feel the love and care of netizens for giant pandas, which is an inexhaustible motivation to motivate us to work harder to do a good job in giant panda conservation research. I hope that netizens will continue to care, support and participate in the cause of giant panda protection, and let us work together to promote the high-quality development of giant panda protection. (End)