The China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center has successfully helped seven new born baby giant pandas through their infancy. This is the fourth consecutive year the center has maintained a 100 percent survival rate for the young cubs.
These seven little ones were born in August this year. They have just made it through the most critical period and have been moved out of their incubators. After another month, they will be weaned on to regular food.
"After the weaning, the baby pandas' diet and digestion will change. The time when they are weaned from drinking milk to being fed bamboo will be a significant period. They might become sick if not fed properly," Li Desheng, a researcher from China Giant Panda Protection Research Center.
They have just grown a coat of soft fur to keep them warm, and some of the small cubs are still finding their feet. The center's staff keep a record of the baby pandas' temperatures everyday and keep a close eye on their health.
There are many difficulties in raising the animal. Before 1998, the survival rate in Chinese giant panda centers was almost zero. But things changed dramatically after the year 2000 when China achieved some technical breakthroughs.
(CCTV.com December 27, 2003)
