Over the next four years, 108 animals - close to 10 percent of the wild pandas in China - were "rescued."

There are many reasons I think, but few of them have very much to do with wild pandas.

It is the largest remaining continuous habitat for giant pandas and home to more than 80% of the world's wild giant pandas.

Because of pollution and destruction of their natural habitat, along with segregation caused by caging, reproduction of wild pandas was severely limited.

With these renewed efforts and improved conservation methods, wild pandas have started to increase in numbers in some areas, though they still are classified as a rare species.

The most recent census of wild pandas, which live near the Chinese-Tibetan border, counted only 700 of the animals, down from 1,000 a few years ago.

In the interests of conservation, ZSL had stated they would not encourage the collection of wild pandas.

In keeping with the habits of wild pandas, Mei is generally alone, although Mei and Tian are occasionally together outside of breeding season.

"There's no evidence this has hit the wild pandas yet," Dr. O'Brien said.

In July 2005, a wild panda walked into Dujiangyan, China causing panic among residents before she was finally captured by firemen.