The Giant Panda, an Endangered Species
This Black-and-White Bear Still at Risk After Years of Conservation
Sep 10, 2009
If asked to name an endangered species, what's the first animal that comes to mind? A whale? A polar bear? A rhinoceros? Perhaps, but equally as likely to come to mind is the giant panda bear. After all, its image serves as the logo for the World Wildlife Federation (WWF). Its black-encircled eyes and white-furred face is synonymous with wildlife conservation, and efforts to preserve the species are decades-old.
Yet, the giant panda remains endangered. Have more than 40 years of conservation efforts been a waste of time?
In short, no. Great strides have been made toward protecting the species. Still, there is more work to be done.
What is a Giant Panda?
The predominant sub-species of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), the Sichuan giant panda, is a large, black-and-white bear. It is readily recognizable by its black ears, nose, and eye patches set against a white furry face. The panda's legs and shoulders are also black, though the remainder of its body is white.
Per the website of the San Diego Zoo, which houses several giant pandas, adult bears are approximately five feet tall and can weigh up to 330 lbs. In the wild, giant pandas live up to 20 years, but captive pandas often live longer.
A second sub-species, the Qinling giant panda, has a smaller frame and a dark brown/light brown color pattern instead of the usual black-and-white. According to the WWF, only 200-300 of these pandas exist.
Both sub-species resemble other bear species in most other respects. Giant pandas are distant relatives of their neighbor and name sharer, the red panda.
Baby pandas are born blind, hairless, and tiny, approximately 4 ounces. Litters consist of one or two cubs, at most. They require constant nurturing and don't leave home until at least one year old. From then on, they live solitary lives, except during brief mating seasons.
Where Do Giant Pandas Live?
The giant panda's thick coat is well suited to cooler habitats. The two sub-species are named after the Chinese provinces in which they are found. According to the WWF, Qinling pandas live solely in the Qinling Mountain range in Shaanxi Province. Sichuan pandas are found in approximately 20 isolated patches in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu Provinces.
Giant pandas live in dense, rainy forests with plenty of bamboo undergrowth. Some reside at elevations higher than 10,000 feet. Despite their robust size, pandas are excellent tree climbers. They can be found either sitting amongst bamboo shoots or resting above them. Unlike other bears, pandas do not hibernate in winter and may seek out lower, warmer destinations.
What Do Giant Pandas Eat?
Giant pandas are primarily herbivores. They spend half their days eating bamboo shoots and leaves. Where this doesn't satisfy, pandas have been known to eat grasses, insects, fruits, and even small mammals.
Why are Giant Pandas Endangered?
Giant pandas are threatened by habitat loss. According to the WWF, their forest habitat "is increasingly fragmented by roads and railroads." As human habitation expands and land is put to agricultural use, the panda's habitat shrinks. Its food sources also diminish as bamboo and other natural resources are exploited. Add to these factors poaching and the giant panda's short mating season and low reproductive rate, and a perfect storm is set for the giant panda's demise.
What can be Done to Protect Giant Pandas?
Preserving and increasing current giant panda habitat is necessary for their survival. The WWF, its partners, China's government, and the local governments of the Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu Provinces have been instrumental in doing just that. In 2004, a survey counted 1,600 giant pandas remaining in the wild. Although this number is slight, it is 40 percent higher than figures estimated in the 1980s, says the WWF. It is through the efforts of conservationist organizations like the WWF that this small success has been obtainable.
The WWF and the provincial governments have cause to celebrate. They have increased panda habitat with the creation of green corridors and new reserves. They have reduced poaching and illegal logging. They research methods in which human coexistence with pandas can be mutually beneficial. To slow the declining Qinling panda population, "the Shaanxi provincial government has officially sanctioned five new panda reserves and five panda corridors, increasing protected areas in Qinling by 130,000 hectares," according to the WWF's website. All in all, China has more than "50 panda reserves, protecting more than 2.5 million acres – over 45 percent of remaining giant panda habitat – protecting more than 60 percent of the population."
The San Diego Zoo has research underway that will help scientists to better understand the panda's communication and reproduction habits. Zoos, like the San Diego Zoo, and the Wolong Breeding Center have made great leaps in sustaining nursery-reared cubs.
Still, giant pandas are by no means safe from extinction. Increasing panda habitat, deterring illegal hunting, and continued research into the species and its ecosystem are imperative. The giant panda population is far too small and its growth rate too minute to chance its survival on mediocre protections.
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