The region , including the Panda Research Center , was largely devastated by the catastrophic May 12 , 2008 Sichuan earthquake , though the captive giant pandas were initially reported to be safe . Immediately after the quake , officials were unable to contact the reserve . PRC 's Foreign Ministry later said that a group of 31 British tourists visiting the Wolong panda reserve in the quake-hit area returned safe and uninjured to the provincial capital . The well-being of an even greater number of pandas in the neighbouring panda reserves initially remained unknown . Five security guards at the reserve were killed by the earthquake . Six pandas escaped after their enclosures were damaged . By May 20 , two pandas at the reserve were found to be injured , while the search continued for another two adult pandas that went missing after the quake . By May 28 , 2008 , one panda was still missing , nine-year-old Mao Mao , a mother of five at the breeding centre . She was discovered on Monday , June 9 , her body crushed by a wall in her enclosure . Panda keepers and other workers placed her remains in a small wooden crate and buried her outside the breeding centre
2008 Sichuan earthquake
2008 Sichuan earthquake
Wolong National Nature Reserve