People and pandas avoid injury

No pandas at the Bifeng-xia base, part of the Wolong National Nature Reserve, were killed or injured in the earthquake, said Zhang Hemin, chief of Wolong's administrative bureau.

"There have been no casualties, of either people or pandas at the base, although buildings shook just like they did in the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008," he said. "Most of the pandas in the base experienced the Wenchuan earthquake."

The base accommodates more than 60 giant pandas and about 30 members of staff.

"A few pandas were frightened by the quake," Zhang Guiquan, deputy director of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, told China Daily over the phone.

"Some climbed trees and others became noticeably restless. It will take days or maybe a week before they calm down," he said.

Zhang Guiquan was in Dujiangyan city, Sichuan province, approximately 160 kilometers away from Ya'an, when he felt the quake. Along with several colleagues he immediately set off by car at around 9 am and arrived at the panda base at 11:30 am. Some buildings had cracks and a few windows had been broken.

He said they had no concerns about buying food from nearby counties and cities since vehicles can use the roads.

Contact the writers at jiangxue-qing@chinadaily.com.cn and huangzhiling@chinadaily.com.cn.