Six pandas bred in captivity will be released into the natural habitat in southwest China's Sichuan Province next Wednesday. It is a major step toward sending the endangered animals into the wild.

The pandas, ages two to four, will be released into the "Panda Valley",134 hectares of enclosed forest, part of the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Release Research Center.

After a year of observations on their health conditions and genetic backgrounds, the pandas were carefully selected from 108 others.

Zoologists believe releasing giant pandas will reduce the risk of inbreeding.