<p>China released another two captive- bred giant pandas into the wild today in southwest China's Sichuan Province, in an attempt to diversify the endangered species' genetic pool.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Hua Yan and Zhang Meng, both females, were born at the semi-wild training center in Wolong Nature Reserve in August 2013 and July 2014, respectively.<br /><br />They were released into Liziping Nature Reserve this morning.<br /><br />They are the sixth and seventh giant pandas to have been released to the wild.<br /><br />Both of them were declared in good shape and ready for release after a thorough physical examination at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) on Tuesday.<br /><br />"The two pandas have learned the basic skills needed to survive in the wild, including foraging for food, distinguishing and hiding from predators, and adapting to harsh weather conditions," state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Huang Yan, a panda reintroduction specialist as saying.<br /><br />Both have been fitted with ID chips to monitor their physical conditions and GPS collars.<br />The best time to release pandas is late autumn or early winter, the time when wild young pandas usually leave their mothers.<br /><br />"Releasing them to the wild is just the beginning. We'll continue to monitor them and see whether they can survive in the wild," said Huang.<br /><br />"We hope they can mate and breed." <br /> <br />China first released a captive-bred panda into the wild in 2006.<br /><br />Xiang Xiang, who was a five-year-old at the time, was released into Wolong National Nature Reserve.<br /><br />However, he died roughly a year later after fighting with other pandas over food and territory.<br /><br />In 2012, 2013 and 2014, Tao Tao (male), Zhang Xiang (female) and Xue Xue (female) were released into Liziping reserve.<br /><br />Xue Xue died a month after her release in November 2014.<br /><br />The last panda to be released was Hua Jiao, a two-year-old female, in November 2015. </p>
<p>China released another two captive- bred giant pandas into the wild today in southwest China's Sichuan Province, in an attempt to diversify the endangered species' genetic pool.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Hua Yan and Zhang Meng, both females, were born at the semi-wild training center in Wolong Nature Reserve in August 2013 and July 2014, respectively.<br /><br />They were released into Liziping Nature Reserve this morning.<br /><br />They are the sixth and seventh giant pandas to have been released to the wild.<br /><br />Both of them were declared in good shape and ready for release after a thorough physical examination at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) on Tuesday.<br /><br />"The two pandas have learned the basic skills needed to survive in the wild, including foraging for food, distinguishing and hiding from predators, and adapting to harsh weather conditions," state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Huang Yan, a panda reintroduction specialist as saying.<br /><br />Both have been fitted with ID chips to monitor their physical conditions and GPS collars.<br />The best time to release pandas is late autumn or early winter, the time when wild young pandas usually leave their mothers.<br /><br />"Releasing them to the wild is just the beginning. We'll continue to monitor them and see whether they can survive in the wild," said Huang.<br /><br />"We hope they can mate and breed." <br /> <br />China first released a captive-bred panda into the wild in 2006.<br /><br />Xiang Xiang, who was a five-year-old at the time, was released into Wolong National Nature Reserve.<br /><br />However, he died roughly a year later after fighting with other pandas over food and territory.<br /><br />In 2012, 2013 and 2014, Tao Tao (male), Zhang Xiang (female) and Xue Xue (female) were released into Liziping reserve.<br /><br />Xue Xue died a month after her release in November 2014.<br /><br />The last panda to be released was Hua Jiao, a two-year-old female, in November 2015. </p>