341 giant pandas living in captivity

The number of giant pandas living in captivity around the world has risen to 341 from no more than 100 two decades ago, the Committee of Giant Panda Breeding Techniques announced on Tuesday. A total of 28 giant panda cubs were born this year, and 20 of them have survived, according to a report released at the committee's annual meeting in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province. Together with one giant panda saved from the wild, the number of the animals living in captivity increased by 21 from last year to 341 in total, according to the report. However, the survival rate of giant panda cubs has dropped from 80.8 percent in 2011 to 71.4 percent this year, said committee director Zhang Zhihe. Zhang attributed the rising mortality rate to a high density of animals leading to the spread of diseases. "With the growth of their population and the limited breeding space, the risk of getting infected with diseases is growing," Zhang said. "Also, the frequent contact between human beings and giant panda may bring zoonosis [diseases transmitted between species], thus more attention should be given to disease prevention for giant pandas," Zhang said.