The 67 giant pandas at the Chengdu Panda Breading and Research Center may face a shortage of bamboo because of earthquake-related damage to roads and forests.

Zhang Zhihe, director of the center, explains.

"In the past, the bamboo for pandas in our center came mainly from the worst quake-hit areas, such as Beichuan and Dujaingyan. But now roads leading to these areas are blocked after the quake. In addition, landslides have also destroyed large areas of bamboo. As a result, the supply of food for our pandas has sharply decreased."

Zoologists say an adult panda consumes at least 20 kilograms of fresh bamboo a day. The center currently has 10 hectares of bamboo forest. And its supply of bamboo is enough to feed the pandas for three to five months.

But zoologists also say the pandas there could face food shortages in the winter.