China's wild Panda population shows signs of recovery

China's wild Panda population grew by 268 or 16.8% between 2003 and 2013 according to a nationwide survey on the highly endangered mammal conducted by the State Forestry Administration (SFA).

The habitat areas of giant pandas also expanded by 11.8% to 2.58 million hectares from the previous survey period but increasing urbanisation still poses a threat to the shy creatures.

China's total captive giant panda population also grew by the end of 2013 reaching 375, including 166 males and 209 females. Compared with 2003, the captive population increased by 211, or 128.7%, with more of the breeding age, the SFA said.

Wild giant pandas are found in six remote, bamboo covered mountain ranges across 49 counties in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.

The survey also showed a total of 42 adult pandas and cubs were living overseas in 12 countries by June 2014 as a result of the collaborative research on giant pandas China has established with various nations including the UK, US and Canada.