Foping Nature Reserve (simplified Chinese: 佛坪国家级自保护区; traditional Chinese: 佛坪國家級自保護區; pinyin: Fópíng guójiājí zì bǎohù qū; lit. 'Foping National Level Nature Protection Area') in Shaanxi Province, China, is a nature reserve and national park situated in the Qinling Mountains. The Nature Reserve covers 350 km2 (140 sq mi) and is under the leadership of the Ministry of Forestry. Foping Nature Reserve is girdled by other protected areas: It is bordered in the east by the Long-caoping Forest Farm; in the west it is flanked by the Changqing Nature Reserve; Zhouzhi Nature Reserve, the stronghold of the Golden Monkey, and Laoxiancheng Nature Reserve are situated to the north.[2] The Foping Reserve covers 29,240 hectares (72,300 acres) of rugged mountain terrain and is home to a stable panda population.[3] Elevations range from 1,080 to 2,094 m with warm summers and cold winters. 950–1,200 mm of rain falls mostly from July to September, with snow at higher elevations. Forested lands dominate the reserve with a mix of conifers and broadleaf deciduous trees.[4]
| Foping Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
| 佛坪国家级自保护区 | |
  Map of China | |
| Location | Shaanxi Province, China |
| Coordinates | 33°39′29″N 107°48′25″E / 33.658°N 107.807°E[1] |
| Area | 350 km2 (140 sq mi) |
| Established | 1978 |
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History
editThe Foping Nature Reserve was set up in 1978 with a view to protecting the giant panda.
Roads
editRoads end at the reserve edge to minimize human presence in the interior of the reserve.[4]
Flora and fauna
editMammals found in the reserve include the giant panda, golden monkey, mainland serow, Chinese goral, dwarf musk deer, Asiatic black bear, and North-Chinese leopard.[4] Also red and white giant flying squirrel lives in the reserve.[5]
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Giant panda population
editThe Foping National Natural Reserve supported a relatively stable population of about 64 pandas from 1974 to 1993 where they avoided people and lived in areas with bamboo growing well.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Foping Nature Reserve". protectedplanet.net.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Native Place of the Giant Panda in Qinling Mountains --Foping National Nature Reserve". wildgiantpanda.org. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ^ LIU Xuehua, Toxopeus Albertus G.; Skidmore Andrew, K.; Shao, Xiaoming; Gaodi, Dang; Tiejun, Wang; Prins, Herbert H. T. (2005). "Giant panda habitat selection in Foping Nature Reserve, China". Journal of Wildlife Management. 69 (4): 1623–1632. doi:10.2193/0022-541X(2005)69[1623:GPHSIF]2.0.CO;2.
- ^ a b c Zhi-gao, Zeng; Wen-qin, Zhong; Yan-Ling, Song; Jun-Sheng, LI; Feng, GUO (2002). "Group size, composition and stability of golden takin in Shaanxi Foping Nature Reserve, China". Folia Zool. 51 (4): 289–298.
- ^ Doucette, Dan (2012-03-24). "Red and White Giant Flying Squirrel". Project Noah. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ^ YONG Yange, ZHANG Jian, ZHANG Shanning. 1993. The distribution and number of the giant panda in the Foping Reservation. Acta Theriologica Sinica. 13:245-250.
External links
edit- Official website (in Chinese)