deep in the wild of Foping nature reserve in central Shaanxi province in Beijing, China, global positioning systems (GPS) is being used to keep watch on giant pandas and their mating behavior.
no, this is definitely not a modern-day style of seeking sordid or scandalous sex in the animal kingdom. scientists in China believe GPS is a good way to avoid panda extinction.
according to Wei Fuwen of the China Academy of Sciences' Institute of Zoology (CASIZ), tracking the pandas with advanced technology and observing their sexual activities "might help us find ways to avoid their extinction. giant pandas are inaccessible for long periods of time, and traditional observation cannot unravel the ecological mystery of the animals."
studies show that pandas in the wild are recovering from the brink of extinction, but they are not yet out of danger. this is due mainly to the great difficulties in producing cubs. almost 80% of female pandas were unable to conceive while 90% of males were sterile, according to a study by CASIZ researchers conducted in 2001 to 2004.
statistics show that barely 1600 of the pandas are alive in the wild today. these animals mostly inhabit the high, fog-covered mountains of China's southwest Sichuan province while more than 150 live in captivity.
giant pandas are unusually discreet animals when it comes to mating. the $660,000 joint project between China and the United States Zoological Society of San Diego is vouching on the use of GPS sensors to find out what is really happening behind the bamboo leaves.
(Scientist Spy on panda sex habits. www. abc.net, china to use GPS to peep on Panda sex. www.cnn.com)
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