THERE were about 144 pandas in Sichuan and Shaanxi at the time of the earthquake (地震). People lost contact (失去联系) with panda center workers in the area at the start. Thirty hours after the quake, people found the pandas were fine. The panda cubs (幼兽) are now in safe places. In the picture a panda sticks out (伸出) its tongue (舌头) for a piece of apple.