The condition of an injured wild giant panda in northwest China's Shaanxi Province is improving but doctors
still cannot operate on it because of a lack of blood supplies,
said experts on Wednesday.
The panda is being fed with milk and a mixture of bamboo leaves
and wheat powder. It is also receiving other nutrients
intravenously. "We can't make a decision on the form of medical
treatment until it restores more of its physical strength," said Ma
Qingyi, a veterinarian with the provincial rare animal rescue
center.
The panda's eyes are now full of vigor, Ma said, although
doctors still consider the animal as being in a critical
condition.
The panda has a fractured skull, broken legs and chest injuries.
Its internal organs and nervous system are also damaged.
It was found lying near a river by tourists on July 1 at a
scenic spot about 80 kilometers southwest of Xi'an, provincial
capital of Shaanxi. Experts believe the panda might have sustained
the injuries after falling into a ravine. They also believe the
animal was sick which might have contributed to the fall.
At least 1,500 ml panda plasma are needed for an operation, Ma
said, adding that it is difficult to find matching blood from other
pandas.
Experts are extracting blood plasma a bit at a time from the
panda itself. "We have already collected 200 ml, but it is far from
enough," Ma said.
A census in 2002 showed that there were 1,596 wild giant pandas
living across China, mainly in the more than 40 nature reserves in
Shaanxi, Sichuan and Gansu provinces.
(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2006)