A research facility in China is aiming to increase the captive population of the Giant Panda.

Based in Sichuan Province, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, in, China is breeding cubs with the aim of reintroducing the endangered creatures back into the wild.

Baby pandas at the centre are specially looked after by a team of experts who use artificial breeding to boost their numbers, the Daily Mail reported.

Roughly 1,590 pandas live in China, with the majority of those located in the Sichuan area as well as the north-western provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi.

Much of the creatures' natural habitat in Sichuan was destroyed by the earthquake that took place there in May this year.

A number of the panda cubs' mothers were transferred to the research base and were treated for shock.

Last year, the number of Giant Pandas that were bred in captivity was 239.

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