China creates panda breeding center

BEIJING, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- China is planning to establish a new breeding base for giant pandas in the central province of Shaanxi, state media reported Friday.

Wang Wayun, an official with the Shaanxi Provincial Forestry Department, said the project would be established under the Shaanxi Salvage and Breeding Research Center for Endangered Wild Animals in Zhouzhi county on the northern side of the Qinling mountains.

Three pandas have been born at the center in the past two years.

Wang said the new project would speed up the breeding program and would also train infant pandas to live in the wild.

Experts believe there are only 1,500 giant pandas still alive in the wild. The animals are slow breeding, contributing to their endangered status.