There has been little growth of the wild giant panda population, which is now estimated at 2,000.

Schaller sought to refute the notion that the panda population was declining due to natural bamboo die-offs.

Since Schaller's research, the panda population has increased in the wild by 45 percent.

Between 250 to 280 giant pandas live in the region, estimated at around a fifth of the entire wild giant panda population.

But the Government announced that the panda population was about 1,000, apparently because it anticipated a decline and did not want to be blamed for it.

It will house one fifth of the world's giant panda population and provide development opportunities for people living in an area devastated by earthquake in 2008.

China's last public estimate of the giant panda population - about 1,000 animals - was made in 1976.

Bhutan has five protected areas that support red panda populations.

Burma has 26 protected areas, of which at least one hosts red panda populations.

By 2008, it had 124 panda births, and the captive panda population has grown to 83.