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Wanglang
Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China Visitor Information
The giant panda is known and cherished around
the world. The panda, one of the most rare and beloved animals in the world,
is threatened with extinction - only about 1,000 pandas live in the wild. Although
historically pandas were found throughout much of China and in Burma and
Laos, today all of the wild pandas in the world live in six isolated forest
areas in central China. Wanglang Nature Reserve, established in 1963
by the Sichuan Forestry Bureau, is located in the Minshan Mountains in some
of China's most important panda habitat. Wanglang, whose purpose
is to protect the giant panda and its habitat, and the 10 other nearby reserves in
remote areas of northern Sichuan are critical to the
continued survival of the giant panda. There are estimated
to be about 30 wild pandas living in Wanglang. At Wanglang you
have a unique opportunity to experience the lush forests, beautiful
mountains, and thick bamboo groves of the panda’s home. Additionally, you can
visit the colorful Baima people who have lived in the area just outside the
reserve for hundreds of years. Because there are no
captive pandas at the reserve and because wild pandas live in high mountain
areas in thick foliage and avoid humans, you will probably not
see a panda at Wanglang, However, your trip to the panda's home will be one
you will talk about for years to come and your visit to Wanglang
will help support conservation of the world's treasured creatures, the giant
panda. Published by Wanglang Nature Reserve,
Sichuan Province, China. Last updated January 22, 2001. Send
comments to: roger_ratcliff@hotmail.com |
