Bifengxia panda breeding centre

A giant panda cub at its new home, the Bifengxia Panda breeding centre in Sichuan Photograph: Dan Chung

In May 2008, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake devastated China's main panda reserve at Wolong in Sichuan province. Approximately four-fifths of the reserve was destroyed Photograph: Dan Chung

A year on from China's worst quake in 30 years, three male and three female cubs who were left behind have been moved to a temporary reserve with the other pandas Photograph: Dan Chung

During the earthquake, five workers at the reserve and one panda were killed. Of the remaining panda population, more than 50 are now at the Bifengxia reserve Photograph: Dan Chung

They will stay there until a new panda centre is built around Wolong. It will be completed by 2015 Photograph: Dan Chung

To help the pandas recover from trauma caused by the disaster, keepers gave psychological support in the form of games and hugs Photograph: Dan Chung

"We talk to the pandas and play with them - that helps give them psychological support," said Lu Yong, who helped to care for the animals from birth Photograph: Dan Chung

In the year since the quake, the weight of each panda has trebled from 20kg to 60kg Photograph: Dan Chung

It is thought that only about 1,600 pandas remain in the wild Photograph: Dan Chung

Giant panda cubs at the Bifengxia Panda breeding centre in Sichuan Photograph: Dan Chung

Giant panda cubs at the Bifengxia Panda breeding centre in Sichuan Photograph: /Dan Chung

Giant panda cubs at the Bifengxia Panda breeding centre in Sichuan Photograph: Dan Chung

Giant panda cubs at the Bifengxia Panda breeding centre in Sichuan Photograph: /Dan Chung

Giant panda cubs at the Bifengxia Panda breeding centre in Sichuan Photograph: /Dan Chung