Can artificial insemination save giant pandas?
September 28, 1997 Web posted at: 4:36 p.m. EDT (2036 GMT) BEIJING (CNN) — Artificial insemination could delay the extinction of the giant panda by about 60 years or more, according to scientists who want to use the technique to produce more pandas. Only about 1,000 giant pandas remain in the wild, occupying six small forest fragments in southwestern China. About 90 pandas live in captivity in zoos throughout the world. The much-revered species is expected to become extinct by about 2040, barring a drastic change of events. But the recent births of two baby pandas at China’s Chengdu Breeding and Research Center have scientists excited that they are making slow but steady progress in increasing the panda population. Look at a giant panda 405KB/12 sec. QuickTime movie Some scientists have suggested using cloning techniques, such as those used in Scotland to produce Dolly the sheep, to save the species. But others object, saying cloning would produce a species of pandas that lacks divers
