China News Network, Zunyi, Guizhou, May 15 (Zhao Yuan) The reporter learned from the Institute of Mountain Resources of the Guizhou Academy of Sciences on the 15th that the Institute of Mountain Resources of the Guizhou Academy of Sciences and the French Cave Alliance had recently conducted an investigation in the Shuanghe Cave area in Suiyang, Zunyi. They collected a rhinoceros fossil trace found many years ago for the first time, and found two new panda fossil traces. So far, researchers have found 44 panda fossil remains in the Shuanghe Cave area of Suiyang.

The rhinoceros fossils are located in an upper cave in the Shuanghe Cave area. Investigators entered through a low opening and used the single rope technique to reach the bottom of the shaft 15 meters deep to find the complete rhinoceros skull and some leg bones. According to the preliminary measurement on site, the skull fossil is about 60 cm long, and two rows of regular teeth are clearly visible.

Wang Deyuan, an assistant researcher at the Institute of Mountain Resources, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, said that after discussion with industry experts, it was preliminarily inferred that this was a Sumatran rhinoceros. "The fossils were washed away by the current, but because the current is not large, the skull is relatively complete, the leg bones and some other parts of the body bones are buried in the river sediments, and the weathering degree is relatively serious."

Rhinoceros is a mammal of the rhinoceros family of the order Odysodactyla, which has disappeared in China. Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest species among rhinoceroses. It is listed as a critically endangered species in the Red List of Endangered Species of the World Conservation Union. There are less than 50 rhinoceros in the world. Wang Deyuan has extracted some fossil samples on site, and plans to carry out detailed tests to determine their ages and make further research.

During this investigation, two panda fossil remains were found at the same time. Since 2003, more than 40 panda fossils have been found in Shuanghe Cave. Compared with the past, the panda fossils found this time are relatively complete, not only with complete skulls, but also with back bones such as spine, ribs, phalanges and metacarpals piled up and buried together.

Wang Deyuan said: "One of the individual tooth fossils has a slight abrasion spot, indicating that the panda died in his prime of life. Most of the tooth fossils of giant pandas found in Shuanghe Cave in the past were slightly abraded, mainly sub adults. The age of the panda at the time of death has certain reference significance for further exploring the cause of its death."

It is understood that Wang Deyuan and his team will extract the ancient DNA information from the panda fossil samples, and demonstrate the genetic evolution process, feeding characteristics, paleoclimate and paleoenvironment changes of the Shuanghe Cave region and other scientific issues through the study of stable isotopes and tooth stones of the fossils.

Wang Deyuan believes that through the study of Shuanghedong panda fossils, if it can be proved that its diet was more extensive in the past, it may provide possibility for wild giant pandas to survive here in the future. "For example, it has been released into the wild, and its food has become diversified. Besides eating bamboo, can we consider other food here?"

Researchers from the Key Laboratory of Southwest Wildlife Resources Protection of the Ministry of Education of West China Normal University also carried out ecological environment survey in Shuanghedong area at the same time. Researcher Tian Huawei said that the three month survey will explore whether the existing local environment is suitable for the survival of wild giant pandas.

"We came here last year to make a preliminary study, and collected bamboos for relevant tests. We found that the bamboos here are different from those in Sichuan. This time, we hope to take all the surrounding environments of Shuanghedong and Kuanshui into consideration." Tian Huawei said that the purpose of this study is to explore the reasons for the disappearance of pandas in Guizhou Shuanghedong area, It is also hoped that the research can reflect whether the population distribution of wild giant pandas can be expanded through human intervention in the future.

Tian Huawei said: "Because wild giant pandas now mainly live in Gansu, Sichuan and Shaanxi, their living space is squeezed due to habitat fragmentation. If the surrounding area of Shuanghe Cave is proved to be suitable for giant pandas, perhaps the existing living space of wild giant pandas in China can be expanded." (End)