6 panda bred in captivity amble into nature preserve as China is reintroducing more to wild

DUJIANGYAN, China — Six pandas bred in captivity wandered into an enclosed nature preserve in their native central China on Wednesday, a step toward eventually being reintroduced to the wild.

Researchers hope the captive-born pandas will be weaned from dependency on humans in the coming years and learn to forage, mate and fend for themselves. Success in the reintroduction project would potentially help save the endangered giant panda. An estimated 1,600 live in the wild, their numbers dwindling from poaching and encroaching development. More than 300 pandas are in captivity in China, which funds breeding programs.

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Karen Tumulty, Debbi Wilgoren 12 Jan, 2012

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Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=da8715952f140c0e42859d2b0e0589ab
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