A research institute for giant pandas was established Sunday in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The institute, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, will focus on the frontier science of giant panda research and carry out long-term communication and cooperation with leading research institutions and international organizations.

It will also work on the archives, the genetic gene pool and habitat restoration technologies for the giant panda's wild population as well as captive breeding, wild training and disease control and prevention.

Scientific planning of the Giant Panda National Park and research on ecological and biodiversity protection will be carried out between the institute and universities and research institutions at home and abroad.

Zhang Zhihe, director of the institute, said that the new institute will also focus on community development and eco-tourism related to the giant panda.

(Cover image via VCG)

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