¡¡XI'AN, June 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The number of giant pandas, an endangered species native to China, has amounted to 273 in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, according to statistics available on Wednesday.

    This constitutes part of the finding from a recent survey on giant pandas conducted in five related nature reserves, four cities and 10 counties in the province in the four years from June 1999 to June 2003.

    The survey indicated that the number of giant pandas averages 7.8 per 100 square kilometers in the surveyed area, totaling 542,000 hectares. One hundred and eighty-eight giant pandas, or 68.9 percent of the total number in Shaanxi, live in local nature reserves, according to the survey.

    Surveys carried out in the province in 1976-1977 and 1987-1988 show that the precious, rare creatures numbered 237 and 243 respectively.

    Giant pandas, which are believed to have been around during the time of the dinosaurs, are dubbed as "living fossils" and are regarded as "national gems" by the Chinese people.

    The State Forestry Administration announced last week that China currently has more than 1,750 giant pandas, including at least 1,590 in the wild -- a drastic rise from 1,110 reported in 1988, and 161 raised in captivity.

    The western provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu are the major habitats of the rare creatures.

    To date, China has designated 27 giant panda reserves and moved to protect 32 counties that are proven habitats of the rare species. At least 95 percent of giant pandas in the wild have now been brought under protection.

    Meanwhile, Chinese scientists have worked out state-of-the-art artificial fertilization technologies to increase the birth rate of giant pandas bred in captivity. And at least 90 percent of the artificially bred baby pandas have survived and are now doing well.Enditem