Eats Shoots and Thrives

They are famously sex-shy, beloved of poachers, and range over extensive, densely forested highlands. Now new research has shown that the fortunes of China's endangered giant pandas may be improving.

The most comprehensive survey of the Chinese panda population to be carried out for 20 years has found 400 more of the reclusive animals than the previous study did.

Although the increase seems to be largely due to improved census methods rather than more successful breeding, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) is optimistic that the giant panda will benefit from conservation efforts being made by the Chinese government.

A four-year study, carried out by China's state forestry administration and the WWF, counted almost 1,600 giant pandas in the wild - 40% more than had been discovered in the 80s survey.

Callum Rankine, a WWF international species officer, said searching a wider, deeper area in the Chinese highlands had uncovered previously unknown panda populations. Improved census methods - a combination of counting droppings and using GSM technology - also produced a more accurate count.

WWF officials praised the Chinese government's work in conserving panda habitats and limiting poaching. The government has increased the number of panda reserves from their 13 - the total in the 80s - to 40. It has also banned logging - which encroached on the pands' habitat - and snaring by poachers.

Mr Rankine explained that poachers were often local people setting wire traps to catch deer, but instead snaring other species. "The result is still a dead panda," he said.

There is also the sex problem. Panda experts in China have tried Viagra and even panda porn videos in an attempt to encourage the reluctant creatures to mate.

Mr Rankine explained that female pandas only come into heat for two months of every year, and that it was difficult for them to find a suitable mate from a total population of 1,600 animals in a possible habitat of 23,000km sq.

Even when a female pandas link up with a male, they are very selective. "Just as with humans, there needs to be chemistry," Mr Rankine said.

The WWF said it planned to work with the Chinese government over the coming years to create panda-safe corridors between reserves.

Mr Rankine said tourists keen to see pandas in the wild could help conservation efforts. "The tourist increase in China is huge. Pandas are bringing in lots of money and provide employment for local people. The result could be more pandas," he explained.

However, he warned that tourists should be prepared to see the great Chinese outdoors rather than pandas themselves. "My line manager spent four years in the field looking for pandas - and only saw one once," he said.