Breeding center in quake zone sustains damage, but pandas all OK

      
All the giant pandas at a nature reserve near the epicenter of Saturday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake in southwest China, were safe and well, the facility's deputy director said.         

Li Desheng, Deputy Chief of Administrative Bureau of the Wolong National Nature Reserve, said all 62 pandas have been accounted for, at the Bifengxia panda preserve, 50 kilometers (31 miles) away from the epicenter.     

When the quake struck, the majority of the pandas sought safety in the trees.       

"Though old giant pandas may not, young giant pandas usually climb up trees during an earthquake as they feel it's safe there," said Li.        

There was minor damage to some of the buildings and equipment at the preserve, but the pandas were unhurt, he said.        

Li estimated there was enough food and water supply for the pandas for about a month.        

Almost half of the pandas at the Bifengxia Base were moved there after the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, according to the Xinhua news agency.        

An endangered species in China, giant pandas live mostly in the seven nature reserves in Sichuan Province, most of which have been affected by major earthquakes over the past few years.             


AP