Experts use two main methods to encourage interaction between captive and wild animals in different habitats

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

A gene exchange between captive and wild pandas aimed at better protecting genetic diversity is a major project at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, according to He Shengshan, a guardian and expert at the center.

He said wild pandas inhabit a wide range of areas, so the population is divided into 33 groups based on their location. "This is similar to human villages or tribes. Some large groups in the wild may have hundreds of pandas, while smaller groups may have just a few dozen. After investigation, we found that of the 33 communities, 22 had fewer than 30 giant pandas," he said.