Shaanxi adds 2 national science bases for forestry, grassland

The National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Ministry of Science and Technology recently announced the first batch of 57 national forestry and grassland science popularization bases in 2023, and two are in Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

They are the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center and the Field Science Observatory of Qinling Rare and Protected Animals.

Panda cubs live at the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center. [Photo by Xu Guanglan/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Located in Louguantai, Zhouzhi county in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi, the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center was established in June 2018.

It is a cooperation platform integrating scientific research, personnel training, academic exchanges, and consulting services on Qinling giant pandas.

The Qinling Giant Panda Research Center has bred 38 giant panda cubs from 32 litters. With over 40 giant pandas raised under care, it is the world's third-largest panda breeding facility, trailing only the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

The Shaanxi Academy of Science and Northwest University jointly established the Field Science Observatory of Qinling Rare and Protected Animals. It is located in Foping county, Hanzhou, in Shaanxi.

It is a primary fieldwork platform for the research, protection, and utilization of wild animals in the Qinling Mountains, as well as related technical demonstrations, personnel training, environmental protection education, and international cooperation and exchanges.

Pandas play in the Qinling Mountains. [Photo by Cai Qiong/For chinadaily.com.cn]