Wu Daifu, a panda expert at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, is raising young artificially. Photo courtesy of China Giant Panda Protection Research Center
Zhongxin. com, Chengdu, August 22nd (Reporter Anyuan) The reporter learned from the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center (hereinafter referred to as Panda Center) on the 22nd that in the early morning of the 20th, due to the continuous heavy rainfall, landslides and mudslides occurred in Wolong, Sichuan, and many national and provincial highways, highways, communications and power were interrupted, resulting in the formation of an island in the wild training base of Walnut Ping in Panda Center. On the afternoon of the same day, there was good news from this "isolated island": Caocao, a giant panda introduced into the wild, successfully gave birth to a pair of male twin babies.
According to Wu Daifu, head of the Walnut Ping Wild Training Base of the Panda Center, in March this year, the research team put the giant panda "Caocao" in the wild area of Wuyi shed in Wolong National Nature Reserve, and started the introduction of giant pandas in the wild in 2019. Caocao lived in the wild for two months and was recaptured to Hetaoping Wilderness Training Base in early May. Through the data analysis of the recording collar worn by Caocao, the researchers determined that Caocao met several wild giant pandas and successfully mated during the five days from April 11 to 15. Around July 20th, "Caocao" appeared obvious pregnancy reaction such as eating less and increasing activity.
Wu Daifu said: "In mid-August, we began to take turns on duty and monitor" Caocao "24 hours a day. According to its behavior, we can judge that its production period is probably in the late stage. Finally, at 4: 35 pm and 5: 04 pm on August 20, the cubs were born respectively. Later, we took two little guys to the temporary nursery for examination. The eldest boy weighed 166g and the second boy weighed 84.1g, both of whom were male and in good health. Considering that the second child is relatively weak, it will be left in the nursery, and it will be artificially raised, and the boss will return it to his mother for raising. " Wu Daifu, who hadn’t slept for two whole days and nights, hurriedly ended his voice message and went to nurse his baby.
Caocao, a giant panda, is a wild giant panda rescued from the wild by the Panda Center in 2002, and is currently 17 years old. In 2018, "Caocao" was introduced into the wild and gave birth to twins "Harmony" and "Meimei", which was certified by Guinness World Records as "the first captive giant panda introduced into the wild and gave birth to and survived giant panda twins". Counting the newborn twins, "Caocao" has bred 6 babies and 9 babies, including 3 pairs of twins.
Caocao is a tame and experienced female giant panda. On the day of the disaster, she showed obvious prenatal behavior. The staff decided to take intermittent observation on Caocao after confirming its stable state, and Caocao seemed to feel everyone’s busyness, except for the prenatal behavior, other situations were relatively stable. Emergency rescue is in full swing; Childbirth, guarding every minute. Until about 15: 30 pm, "Caocao" broke the water, and then gave birth … …
After more than half a month’s all-night duty and a whole night’s rescue and disaster relief, all my colleagues are exhausted and hungry, but they dare not relax, because the disaster has not been lifted, because Caocao and the baby are still waiting for them.
Because roads, electricity and communication were all interrupted, after learning about the situation of the Walnut Ping Wild Training Base, the Wolong Nature Reserve Administration and the Wolong Special Zone Government immediately organized rescue teams to send emergency supplies and extremely precious power generation diesel to them on foot; Family members trapped in the base, surrounding residents affected by the disaster and a trapped truck driver all spontaneously and orderly joined the rescue. The second child who needs to be nursed artificially can’t be sent to Shenshuping Base of Panda Center, which is more than ten kilometers away, for professional management and protection. The staff can only disinfect and arrange, and temporarily build a relatively simple nursery for nursery. Taking milk, taking babies and feeding them, which are usually careless, may endanger the professional operations of pandas and people. At this moment, this situation is even more difficult and thorny, which is not only a test for the babies, but also a challenge for pandaren. Fortunately, with their rich experience, Qi Xin worked together to temporarily overcome the difficulties and stabilize the situation. At present, both mother and son are safe.
According to Zhang Zhizhong, deputy director of the Department of Wildlife Protection of the State Forestry and Grassland Bureau and secretary of the Party Committee of the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center, the panda Caocao was able to successfully give birth to introduced twins in the wild under such a disaster, which proved the professionalism and scientificity of the technical force of the Panda Center and showed the pandaren spirit of "loyalty, responsibility and dedication". The success of wild introduction has injected new genes into the captive giant panda population and increased the vitality and genetic diversity of the artificial population. At the same time, it also creates new ideas and methods for the release and protection of other rare and endangered large mammals, which will play a reference and guidance role for the protection of giant pandas and even other large mammals. (End)
