Earthquake pandas return home

Pandas eat bamboo at their new home in the Wolong Natural Reserve Center, Gengda county, Southwest China's Sichuan province, on Oct 30, 2012.[Photo/CFP]

A new base for the Chinese Panda Protection and Research Center, which was devastated by an earthquake in 2008, has begun trial operation in the Wolong Natural Reserve Center in Sichuan province.

The first batch of 18 pandas, including pandas moved to other places after the quake, started life in their new home in the Wolong Natural Reserve in the province.

The administration bureau of Wolong Natural Reserve held a welcome ceremony for the 18 pandas affected by the devastating quake on May 12, 2008.

Five security guards at the reserve were killed by the earthquake and six pandas escaped after their enclosure was damaged.

After being found, the giant pandas were temporarily relocated to the Bifengxia Panda Base, which is also managed by the research Center.

Workers play with two pandas after they return to the Wolong Natural Reserve Center, in Gengda county, Southwest China's Sichuan province, on Oct 30, 2012.[Photo/CFP]