Hosted by Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens and China West Normal University, organized by Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and College of Life Science, China West Normal University, and co-organized by Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Foundation, 2017 Annual Conference of the Chinese Committee of Breeding Techniques for Giant Pandas was successfully held in Chengdu, Sichuan, from November 6-9, 2017.

Over 260 delegates at home and abroad attended this conference, including representatives from government administrative department, associations, giant panda holding institutions, nature reserves, international conservation organizations, and universities.

Welcome speeches were delivered by Qin Wenlin (Assistant Secretary-General of Chengdu Municipal Government), Yang Chao (Director of the Department of Wild Fauna and Flora Conservation and Nature Reserve Management, State Forestry Administration, China) and Xie Zhong (Vice President of the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens).

Opening Ceremony

Dr. Zhang Zhihe (Director of the Chinese Committee of Breeding Techniques for Giant Pandas) presented the "Work Report for the 2017 Annual Conference of the Chinese Committee of Breeding Techniques for Giant Panda".

Dr. Zhang Zhihe, Work Report for the 2017 Annual Conference of the Chinese Committee of Breeding Techniques for Giant Panda

He reviewed the progress of the conservation of captive giant pandas breeding in 2017: captive giant panda breeding situation, cooperative breeding situations at home and abroad, giant panda scientific research progress, disease prevention and control in giant panda captive population, giant panda reintroduction, and protection education. During the 2017 breeding season, all institutions in total have bred 63 cubs through 43 births with 58 survivals. The population has increased to 520.

Dr. Zhang then analyzed new challenges encountered by giant panda holding institutions, including enhancing quality of the captive population, the security of captive giant panda population, and giant panda reintroduction. He then proposed some suggestions to solve these problems, and outlined the focus for 2018.

Delegates from America, Japan, Canada, France, UK, Belgium, Malaysia, and China made presentations regarding their observations and researches into reproduction, genetics, veterinary sciences, ecology, ecological rehabilitation, and conservation education.

Sam Rivera, Overview of the Giant Panda Partnership Between the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Zoo Atlanta; 1999-Present

Chen Yucun, Inspiration of Protecting Geriatric Giant Panda from the Practice of Rescuing Basi for 100 Days

The participants visited Panda Base and Panda Village on the morning of November 9 to finish the conference.

Delegates Visiting Panda Base

Delegates Visiting Panda Base and Taking Part in Panda Class

Delegates Visiting Panda Village

Delegates Visiting Panda Village and Exchanging Panda Information