The recent rains, floods, and landslides in southern China, which resulted in the deaths of several people and massive damage, may have claimed the life of a wild giant panda, the body of which was found on Tuesday afternoon in Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province has been.
Relief workers try to move the water-soaked body of a giant panda, which is believed to have been killed by floods and mudslides during the recent storm in Sichuan province. The dead animal was found on July 5, 2011 in the Zipingpu Reservoir in the small town of Yingxiu, Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province.
During a veterinary inspection by the Wolong Nature Reserve in Wenchuan, no obvious external wounds were discovered on the male panda, which was about ten years old.
The autopsy revealed a significant amount of water in the animal's lungs, said Zhang Hemin, head of the sanctuary's administration. Based on this result, in connection with the circumstances of the panda when it was found, he excluded that humans could have killed the animal. On the other hand, it is possible that the panda drowned during the current rain showers and was washed up from its original home to Yingxiu in the Minjiang River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, he suspected.
Veterinarians believe the panda had been dead two to three days when found in the Zipingpu Reservoir, which is fed by the Minjiang River. According to the local forestry office, the animal was discovered by a Yingxiu resident who wanted to check his corn fields on Tuesday morning.
Heavy rains and mudslides wreaked havoc in many nature reserves in Sichuan. According to the Office, vegetation and infrastructure in the Wolong and Anzihe reserves have been damaged. A spokesman said that the areas affected by avalanches would be checked regularly and that the animals, including pandas, would be given timely help. According to the state forestry agency, 1,600 pandas live in the wild worldwide.
The storm claimed many victims in Sichuan Province. A spokesman for the local government said that 29,000 households in Wangcang County have been without electricity as a result of downpours since Monday. All 20 schools in the district were damaged by the heavy rainfall, 130 square meters of school buildings collapsed and another 9560 square meters unstable, he said. Three residents of the region were reported missing after the rainstorms.
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