Louguantai

Louguantai

The Louguantai Wild Animal Breeding and Protection Centre is located 76 km from Xi'an. Founded in 1987, the center is one of China's most famous zoological centers, in middle of Shaanxi Province. It covers an area of more than 140 hectares. The center is split into several sections for the handling, breeding, feeding and study of animals. The Louguantai Centre handles rare and endangered species listed in the International Red Book of China. The area is home to Giant Pandas, Red Pandas, Golden Monkeys, Black Bears, Leopards, Giant Salamanders and other species of animals from China. Outside China, however, Louguantai is mostly known for being a center for the breeding of Crested Ibises. The center also houses around 20 Giant Pandas. Experiments have also been made to artificially breed pandas, culminating in the first success in 2009, when 6-year-old Lucian gave birth to twin pandas. Golden Monkeys can also be found in the center. These gorgeous, fiery red, blue-faced, snub-nosed animals are on the brink of extinction. There are 26 adult and juvenile monkeys in the care of Louguantae. The center also helps wild animals in need, and over the years has rescued and treated more than 300 animals, of which 160 have been returned to their homes and 659 still live at the center.