Cao Cao, a captive panda at the Wolong Panda Research Base in Sichuan province, has become the first to successfully mate with a male from the wild.
Cao Cao (Xinhua photo)
Workers assisting in the birth take the baby panda away for medical examination. (Photo/Courtesy of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda)
The 15-year-old, who had given birth to 5 cubs previously, was put out into the wild with a tracking collar on March 1, 2017. After being brought back to the facility, researchers were able to review data from her tracking collar which has found that she successfully mated with a male giant panda on March 23, 2017.
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Cao Cao, a captive panda at the Wolong Panda Research Base in Sichuan province, has become the first to successfully mate with a male from the wild.
Workers assisting in the birth take the baby panda away for medical examination. (Photo/Courtesy of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda)
The 15-year-old, who had given birth to 5 cubs previously, was put out into the wild with a tracking collar on March 1, 2017. After being brought back to the facility, researchers were able to review data from her tracking collar which has found that she successfully mated with a male giant panda on March 23, 2017.
Giant panda cub (Xinhua Photo)
Cao Cao gave birth on July 31 to a cub weighing approximately 216 grams. The normal weight of an average panda cub at birth is around 150 grams.
There are currently 471 captive giant pandas around the world, with around 400 of them at the Giant Panda Research Base in Sichuan. To increase the genetic biodiversity of the species in captivity, the research center has begun allowing breeding females to be put back into the wild for a time, with the hope of successful breeding with the estimated 900 males still roaming among the mountains in Sichuan.
Zhang Hemin, deputy managing director of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, says they're excited by the new birth, saying it's a sign that they may eventually be able to help rejuvenate the wild panda population.
Cao Cao takes a rest before giving birth. (Photo/Courtesy of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda)
Giant panda cub (Xinhua Photo)
Cao Cao gave birth on July 31 to a cub weighing approximately 216 grams. The normal weight of an average panda cub at birth is around 150 grams.
The successful birth is part of a broader program to create more genetic diversity among the captive giant panda population.
Giant panda cub (Xinhua Photo)
There are currently 471 captive giant pandas around the world, with around 400 of them at the Giant Panda Research Base in Sichuan. To increase the genetic biodiversity of the species in captivity, the research center has begun allowing breeding females to be put back into the wild for a time, with the hope of successful breeding with the estimated 900 males still roaming among the mountains in Sichuan.
Giant panda cub (Xinhua Photo)
Zhang Hemin, deputy managing director of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, says they're excited by the new birth, saying it's a sign that they may eventually be able to help rejuvenate the wild panda population.
Giant panda cub (Xinhua Photo)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attacked the United States for earlier blocking United Nations resolutions calling for a cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting with his counterpart in Indonesia.
The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers reiterated their countries' calls for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas.
The U.S., together with Egypt and Qatar, brokered a brief cease-fire earlier in the war that included some swaps of hostages taken by Hamas and other militant groups in return for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and has sought to bring about a new deal.
But the U.S. vetoed a number of proposed U.N. Security Council cease-fire resolutions because they didn’t tie the calls directly to the release of Israel hostages or condemn Hamas’ attack that prompted the war before allowing a resolution to a pass with an abstention in late March.
The meeting took place on the second day of a six-day tour during which Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will also visit Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.
Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi told reporters that the two countries share the same view about the importance of a cease-fire and of resolving the Palestinian problem through a two-state solution.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians and does not recognize Israel.
“I am sure that China would use its influence to prevent escalation,” Marsudi said, adding that China and Indonesia "would also fully support Palestine’s membership in the U.N.”
Wang blamed the United States for holding up cease-fire resolutions at the U.N.
“The conflict in Gaza has lasted for half a year and caused a rare humanitarian tragedy in the 21st century. The United Nations Security Council responded to the call of the international community and continued to review the resolution draft on the cease-fire in Gaza, but it was repeatedly vetoed by the United States,” Wang told reporters.
American officials have argued that the cease-fire and hostage releases are linked, while Russia, China and many other council members favored unconditional calls for a cease-fire. China and Russia also vetoed one U.S.-backed cease-fire resolution, saying it was not strong enough.
Referring to the resolution that was approved by the Security Council in March, Wang said: “This time, the U.S. did not dare to stand in opposition to international morality and chose to abstain. However, the U.S. claimed that this resolution was not binding," Wang said. “In the eyes of the United States, international law seems to be a tool that can be used whenever it finds useful and discarded if it does not want to use it.”
The two ministers also discussed their countries' economic relationship and the South China Sea.
China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner, with the trade volume reaching more than $127 billion. China is also one of Indonesia's largest foreign investors, with investment flows of more than $7.4 billion in 2023.
Later Thursday, Wang also met Indonesian President Joko Widodo and president-elect Prabowo Subianto, who is currently defense minister.
Indonesian President-elect and current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, left, greets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of the ongoing war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Indonesian President-elect and current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, left, stands next to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as Wang signs a guest book in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim/Pool)
In this photo provided by the Indonesian Presidential Palace, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, talks with Indonesia President Joko Widodo during a meeting at the palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas. (Vico/Indonesian Presidential Palace via AP)
In this photo provided by the Indonesian Presidential Palace, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi , left, shakes hands with Indonesia President Joko Widodo during a meeting at the palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas. (Vico/Indonesian Presidential Palace via AP)
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi gestures as she speaks during a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of the ongoing war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives for a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, right, shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their bilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi gestures as he speaks during his bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, left, speaks during their bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, second right, speaks during a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, bottom second left, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, walks with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during their bilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
