China giant pandas get broadband

An estimated 1,600 pandas are left in the wild in China

China's largest panda reserve has installed a high-speed broadband network to help the animals survive.

Xinhua news agency said the network for connecting to the internet at Wolong reserve in south-western China provides new ways to monitor the species.

Researchers can process real-time data on the pandas, including photos and video signals, at anytime and from anywhere in the reserve, Xinhua said.

China estimates that there are 1,600 pandas left in the wild in the country.

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The numbers, announced in 2004, were 40% more than previous figures suggested.

Correspondents warned that the findings might reflect the fact that the survey was so thorough, rather than a genuine recovery in numbers.

The director of Wolong reserve said digital technology will help to promote the sharing of information on giant panda protection.

"This will not only help increase the number of giant pandas, but also help us manage the living environment of giant pandas in a more efficient manner," Zhang Weimin said.