Some 34 pandas were born by artificial insemination in 2006 and 30
survived -- both record numbers for the endangered species, Cao Qingyao,
a spokesman for the State Forestry Administration, was quoted as saying
by the Xinhua News Agency.

The previous record was the 21 baby pandas born in China's zoos and
breeding centers in 2005.

China has been raising pandas through artificial insemination for nearly
50 years, mostly at two research facilities in the southwestern province
of Sichuan.

In 2006, 17 cubs were born at the Wolong Giant Panda Protection and
Research Center and 12 at the Chengdu Research Base, some of which are
seen here.

Click to watch video of panda cubs

The other panda was bred at the zoo in the southwestern city of
Chongqing.

The panda is one of the world's rarest animals, with about 1,590 living
in the wild in China, mostly in Sichuan and the western province of
Shaanxi.

Female pandas become pregnant only once a year and deliver two cubs at
most each time.