On August 23, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding co-launched a research base and a research trip about fireflies with agencies including Leshan Teachers College in Dujiangyan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Since the establishment of the panda base, the combination of practice and theory has been adopted in animal protection, said Hou Rong, vice president of the panda base. Hou said there are many fireflies living in the panda valley, and they should be jointly protected with pandas to create a comprehensive, protected ecological natural reserve.

According to Nong Xiang, the dean of Leshan Teachers College, fireflies thrive in large numbers in the panda valley, which proves the outstanding contributions made by the panda base in restoring the natural ecology of the panda valley. The research on the symbiotic relationship between fireflies and giant pandas in the valley not only promotes the development of the biology and ecology of fireflies, but also facilitates the further exploration of giant panda habitats. 

Ten families were invited to participate in the research trip. During the trip, they heard lectures on fireflies, red pandas and giant pandas, and enjoyed making firefly lanterns etc. 

The firefly research trip can arouse young people's enthusiasm for nature conservation by visiting the habitats and watching the beautiful scenes of flickering fireflies, so that the awareness of ecological conservation can be continuously developed.

(Cover image provided by Yuan Shuang.)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)