Sixty pandas safe after China quake
BEIJING (Reuters) - Some 60 giant pandas at a Chengdu research centre near the worst hit part of the massive China earthquake are safe, Xinhua reported on Tuesday.
But there was no word yet on the fate of pandas at another research centre at Wolong, near the epicentre of Monday's 7.9 magnitude quake.
At least 10,000 people died and the toll is likely to soar following the quake in Sichuan province.
The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species and is found only in China. It has become an international wildlife symbol and an icon for the Olympic games to be held in Beijing in August.
An estimated 1,600 pandas live in nature reserves in Sichuan province and neighbouring Gansu and Shanxi.
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
Dubai Debt Fears
Banks outside the Gulf played down their exposure to Dubai debt, after fears the emirate could default and even derail world economic recovery prompted a sell-off in global markets. Full Article | Slideshow
One Year Later
Mumbai held tearful memorials and police staged a show of strength as it marked the first anniversary of militant raids that killed 166 people and pushed up tensions with Pakistan. Slideshow | Full Coverage
