China releases captive-bred panda to the wild

CHENGDU - China released the first artificially bred and trained female giant panda into the bamboo groves of Southwest China's Sichuan province on Wednesday, marking a new phase in panda protection.

Experts believe there is a good chance that Zhang Xiang, released in Liziping nature reserve in Ya'an city of Sichuan province, will breed.

Zhang Xiang has been prepared to adapt to the wild with the help of her mother since she was born in 2011.

According to Zhang Xiwu, head of wild animal and nature protection at the National Forestry Administration, China has set up 64 nature reserves for the protection of giant pandas, covering 60 percent of their natural habitats and 70 percent of the wild individuals.

China sent a male panda "Taotao" back to nature in October 2012.