China's largest wild animal rescue and breeding center was put into operation in Beijing Thursday, according to sources from the municipal forestry bureau.

The center, located in northeast Shunyi District, was jointly established by the central and Beijing municipal governments with an investment of 26 million yuan (US$3.22 million).

Covering an area of 16 hectares, the center will be responsible for rescuing and breeding wild animals, as well as conducting regular checkups, inspections and research, authorities from the center said.

It also offers a 381-square-meter hospital, which will be used for quarantine and treating ailing animals.

Currently, the center takes care of 340 species of birds and 40 breeds of beasts. Some were abandoned by their owners and most of the birds were taken away from poultry markets by administrative departments to prevent the spread of bird flu.

"The center has got proper rescue facilities and we believe it will be an ideal habitat for wild animals", said Shi Guisheng, vice director of the municipal forestry bureau.

"We will gradually carry out the rescue work and our ultimate purpose is to put the animals back into nature and thus to preserve the biologic diversity," Shi said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2005)