Research

Collaboration and exchange with the outside world

Intensifying collaborations outside of China is an another effective way for conservation of giant pandas as well as one of the major means driving scientific research in this area. The Base has established collaborative relationships with a number of international organizations from the US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Spain, and Mexico.

International Partnerships and Cooperation Details

	☆ Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan In 1994, a 10-year program of international cooperation in giant panda breeding was launched jointly with Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan. Based on cooperation in semen collection, manufacture of frozen semen, raising of young giant pandas, etc., giant panda named “Meimei” gave birth to 4 young pandas in Japan in 2000, 2001 and 2003 successively, all of which survived. The achievements of oestrus of giant pandas in captivity in autumn and giving birth to young pandas that survived later in winter as well as continuously giving birth to four pandas have been the best performance in the international cooperation in giant panda breeding of China so far.
	☆ Zoo Atlanta, USA In 1999, a 10-year program of international cooperation in giant panda breeding was launched jointly with Zoo Atlanta, USA (and Georgia Institute of Technology, USA). Cooperative projects: 1.Biological research of giant panda breeding 2.Researches on the number, population structure and genetic diversity of giant pandas living in the filed 3.Establishment of genetic resources unit for giant pandas 4.Breeding of giant pandas in captivity in natural conditions 5. Biomedical evaluation of giant pandas.
	☆ NIH/National Cancer Institution, USA Establishing an overall cooperation with NIH/National Cancer Institution, USA. Cooperative projects: 1. Research on giant pandas in captivity via Paternity Testing, etc. 2. Establishment of China feline species sample bank (International catamount sample bank) 3. Genetic resources unit and conservative research of South China Tiger 4. Genetic diversity research on wild giant pandas
	☆ Conservation & Research Center , Smithsonian National Zoo Developing cooperation and researches with Conservation & ResearchCenter , Smithsonian National Zoo. Cooperative projects: 1. Cause for breeding disorder of giant pandas 2. Serological research on infectious diseases of giant pandas and lesser pandas 3. Development of genetic engineering vaccine for canine distemper of giant pandas
	☆East Bay Zoological Society, Oakland, California, USA In 2002, a cooperative program to develop conservation and research of giant pandas was signed with East Bay Zoological Society, Oakland, California, USA. The 10-year international cooperation in giant panda breeding was in preparation. The key laboratory of Sichuan Province (Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding), East Bay Zoological Society, Oakland, California, USA and UCDAVIS jointly developed cooperation and researches upon the program.
	☆ The Oakland China wildlife Preservation Foundation, California, USA In 2002, a cooperative program of financing for giant panda conservation and research was developed with The Oakland China wildlife Preservation Foundation, California, USA. The Oakland China Wildlife Preservation Foundation, California, U.S.A and its base financed the giant panda conservation in the USA. 　　 300,000 US dollars for funded project Phase.
	☆ IUCN/SSC/CBSG The giant panda biomedical and breeding biological researches have been developed with the IUCN/SSC/CBSG since 1996. Research items: 1. Giant panda gamete biology 2. Giant panda reproductive endocrinology 3. Giant panda biomedical examination 4. Establishment of giant panda sperm bank
	☆ North of England Zoological Society, UK In 1999, cooperation in giant panda research was developed with North of England Zoological Society, UK. Research & cooperative fields: 1. Breeding biology 2. Genetic research 3. Nutrition research
	☆ Developing cooperative research with Liverpool University, UK. Cooperative projects: Screening of micro-satellite primer for giant pandas
	☆ Keio University, Japan Developing “Research on Edible Bamboos for Giant Panda” with the Japanese Keio University between 2001 and 2007. In the past three years, bitter bamboo, fernleaf hedge bamboo, indicalamus and two edible bamboos of chimonobamhusa were planted on a 3hm2 land inside and outside the base, totaling five genera and about 5000 clusters. All the introducedbamboos are growing healthily, which proves that the bamboo introduction test is being performed smoothly.
	☆ University of Japan In 2004, an overall cooperation agreement was to be signed with the University of Japan. Cooperation contents: 　 1. Establishing research institutes in the other party’s site 2. Jointly establishing research items (University of Japan and related funds and government authorities) 3. Sending scholars and researchers to the other party’s site 4. Sino-Japanese culture exchange
	☆ National Zoo, Washington, D.C. 　 Research on sperm physiology of giant pandas, optimal utilization of genome resource s bank of male giant pandas, and serology of giant pandas.
	☆ Other international cooperation agencies: The Zoological Society of San Diego, USA Kyushu University, Japan U.S.-CHINA Environ Mental Fund(Vanhall institute, Holland)