Current distribution, status and conservation of wild red pandas Ailurus fulgens in China

The red panda is classed as a category II species under the Wild Animal Pro tection Law in China. Both subspecies, Ailurus fulgens fulgens and A. f. st yani can be found there. However, the styani subspecies is more typical of the region. According to the survey conducted from 1994 to 1996, red pandas now can only be found in Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet. They have become extin ct throughout the rest of their original range, e.g. in Guizhou, Gansu, Sha anxi and Qinghai provinces. The investigation shows that there are 76 245.5 km(2) of forest available within the current range, including 35 088.3 km( 2) in Sichuan, 21 658.1 km(2) in Yunnan and 19 499.1 km(2) in Tibet, respec tively. However, their habitat is only 37 436.5 km(2) (17 228.3 km(2) in Si chuan province, 10 634.1 km(2) in Yunnan province and 9574.1 km(2) in Tibet ) because of a high preference for a particular habitat. It is estimated th at their numbers may have decreased by as much as 40% over the last 50 year s due to massive habitat loss, increasing human activity and poaching. Tota l population numbers estimated are about 6000-7000 in China, including 3000 -3400 in Sichuan, 1600-2000 in Yunnan, 1400- 1600 in Tibet. However, the Ch inese government pays much more attention to wildlife protection today. It has launched a series of laws and regulations and established a lot of nati onal reserves or parks as refuges for wildlife. To date 31 reserves have be en established within the red panda's range: 18 in Sichuan: 7 in Yunnan and 6 in Tibet. These reserves together protect 15,864.9 km(2) of red panda ha bitat. This represents about 42.4% of the red panda's habitat in China. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.