One year after a 7.9 magnitude earth quake hit Beijing China, the Giant Panda an endangered species is still struggling with the recovery of the quake. There was damage to the mountain areas as well as the Wolong Giant Panda Protection Studies Center or also known as the “home of the Panda’s”. Wolongs chief engineer Wang Pengyan notes that "The pandas were traumatized by the quake. Many of them ran up to tree tops and wouldn't come down. These are all signs of stress," The panda is a highly stressed animal, due to this the earthquake had dramatic side affects including the lowered birth rate of panda cubs. This is a big issue for this highly endangered species. A small amount of only thirteen panda cubs were born in the past year compared to the record breaking 30 pandas born in the year of 2006, Researchers at the center believe that it is because of the quake. In total there are approximately 1,590 wild pandas living in china, numbers are decreasing because of the deforestation of the area and numerous things destroying the panda bears natural habitat. "We haven't found any giant panda in the wild who died from the earthquake," suggests Wang. There was no direct damage to the pandas from the earthquake but the overall environment had caused the animal to suffer. The panda bear is a significant symbol for china’s and Asia’s altogether perseveration , The importance of the Giant Panda is huge and by creating a protected environment for the panda is important years to come.
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