ASEANâs five core countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand -- have been growing as fast as any other regional grouping in the world over the past five years. Impressive as this pack has been, two of its members have stood out as particularly promising. Giant Indonesia soared during the last half decade, boasting high growth, low inflation, an extremely low debt-to-GDP ratio, strong foreign exchange reserves, and a top-performing stock market. But it is the Philippines, the regionâs other archipelago, that is now providing the biggest upside surprise.
Those statistics say there are now 1,864 wild giant pandas living in central Chinaâs Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu Provinces. Thatâs up from 1,596 estimated animals in a 2003 report, the last time giant pandas were surveyed. However, some in the conservation community suggest that the new numbers may be due in part to wider surveying and an improvement in surveying techniques, though few doubt the upward trajectory reported by the Chinese.
Helping Giant Pandas. People the world over love the black-and-white bears known as pandas. The giant panda is a national treasure in China, and these rare A species that has small populations, so that even a slight decrease in numbers could cause extinction. bears are protected by law.Today, only around 1,600 giant pandas survive on Earth.eople the world over love the black-and-white bears known as pandas. The giant panda is a national treasure in China, and these rare A species that has small populations, so that even a slight decrease in numbers could cause extinction. bears are protected by law.