China Southern Airlines, the newest member of SkyTeam and the largest airline in the People's Republic of China, will arrange an emergency flight for China's national treasure pandas from the Wolong quake-hit area to Beijing on May 24, 2008.

Wenchuan County is the home to the Wolong giant pandas. The 8-magnitude earthquake on May 12 not only cost tens of thousands of lives and made more than 4.8 million people homeless but also left strong aftershocks on China's national treasure - the large pandas.

The enclosures and pens at Wolong Nature Reserve - the giant panda protection center have been completely destroyed with two large pandas missing so far and the rest staying at the temporary pens. Some of the giant pandas have suffered from symptoms like inappetence and restlessness. Though the big quake has passed, the aftershocks will happen one after another for some time.

Due to the earthquake, living conditions for these lovely pandas have deteriorated.

Aimed at saving the national treasure - the giant pandas, China Southern Airlines sent a special Boeing 747-400 freighter to transport 8 pandas (at no charge) with professional doctors and experts accompanying from Chengdu in Sichuan province to Beijing.

All these pandas will be moved to Beijing's National Zoo for healing and breeding and to also serve as inspiration for all the Chinese people with courage to fight against the disaster and recover from the pain.

(Information contributed by China Southern Airlines)