The major threats to the survival of the giant panda is the destruction of its habitat and poaching to export the skin. The examination of images taken from satellites showed that the habitat suitable for the giant panda has decreased by 50% during the last 15 years. NOTES ON BIOLOGY OF THE GIANT PANDA
The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) is a newly discovered species. Although always known to the Chinese, the giant panda was only made known to Westerners in 1869 by Jesuit Father Armand David French naturalist (also called it "Bear Father David"). The first giant panda came alive in the West (United States) only in 1937.
First awarded the bear family (Ursida), then for a long time associated with the lesser panda and the raccoon in the Racoons, few years the giant panda is again considered to be belonging to the family of Ursida . This bear has the strange characteristic of carnivores digestive system, but long ago adapted to a vegetarian diet, and in its present form it feeds almost exclusively on bamboo stems and leaves.
Tied to mixed bamboo forests of southwestern China, in the provinces of Sichuan , Shan-si and Gansu, mountain vegetation zones between 1,800 and 3,500 meters above sea level and characterized by the presence of different species of bamboo, the panda has been considered a rare animal, very localized and endangered because its power depends heavily on the bamboo, which is very greedy. Hidden among the dense foliage of the forest, the giant panda eats almost all the time , up to 14 hours a day, consuming 12 to 14 kg of bamboo from very little nutritional value.
Contrary to most other bears, the giant panda does not go into hibernation in winter . It lives a solitary existence, meeting only occasionally his peers. During the brief mating season in late spring or early summer, several males may come together and battle it out for the conquest of a female. The season lasts about six weeks, but each female is in heat for only two or three days.
Reproduction and captive breeding of pandas has been very difficult . 20-30 children are born pandas in Chinese zoos, which house about one hundred (often has been used artificial insemination), but very few in zoos outside China. Currently there are only about 15 giant pandas in zoos in Washington, Berlin, Madrid, Mexico City, Paris and Tokyo. The giant panda cubs weigh at birth from 90 to 130 grams, but an adult can weigh over 100 kg. The newborn cubs have little fur and are very delicate: infant mortality is high. Weaning occurs after six months and maturity is reached very slowly. Lifespan is 10-15 years (including over 20 in captivity, the record is 32 years old).
THREATS
The major threats to the survival of giant pandas are the destruction of its habitat and poaching to export the skin . The examination of images taken from satellites showed that the habitat suitable for this difficult species fell by 50% during the last 15 years, and is now reduced to 11 000 sq km in six isolated areas. Incidental catches in traps placed for other animals is another important threat.
Another serious problem for the giant panda is the flowering of bamboo . At regular intervals (10 to 100 years, depending on the species), bamboo plants flower over large areas all at once, and then die. It takes about a year before they spring forth again from the seeds, but 20 years may pass before the forest can again provide shelter and food to pandas. In these cases the animals must move to other areas where bamboos are not in bloom. In the past this was not a big deal, but with the expansion of human populations, large areas of forest have been cut for the agricultural use of land and displacement of the pandas are become difficult or impossible.
STORAGE - ACTION OF THE WWF
The giant panda was chosen as the emblem of the WWF , at its founding in 1961 by Sir Peter Scott, who personally designed the old logo. It has since become the emblem of nature conservation. WWF began working for the conservation of pandas in China in 1980. The initial activity, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry of China, focused on research on the species, hitherto little studied in nature, and its habits.
The WWF also supports the creation of a research laboratory and a breeding center in Wolong, in the largest panda reserve in China. The laboratory and center operating since 1984 and are now run by Chinese scientists (the center is currently home to 23 pandas, and there were born ten). Since 1985 the activities of the WWF is extended to:
1. survey the entire range of distribution of giant pandas to obtain an estimate of the distribution and size of the population;
2. training courses and provision of equipment and equipment for the guards, scientists and managers;
3. the preparation of a program on what was (and is) necessary to save the giant panda.
This program, called "For the Preservation of the panda and its habitat" was completed in 1989. E 'was approved by the State in 1992 and is awaiting funding from the Chinese government. It will take about $ 38 million in 10 years, a fifth committed by China. The WWF has mobilized to collect the remaining four fifths. The main contents of the program are:
- creation of 14 new reserves (in addition to the existing 13), which would lead to the protection of the existing 5 000 11 000 sq km of habitat of the giant panda;
- maintenance or restoration of links between forests inhabited by animals ("corridors") where possible;
- strengthening and development of rural activities to reduce the dependence of local human populations from the collection of forest products from hunting and habitat of giant pandas;
- reduction of felling of trees and bamboo habitat of giant pandas outside of reserves;
- strengthening the conservation education and information activities for the public.
Until 1992 the WWF had already spent the equivalent of more than 5 million euro for the conservation of species and habitats in China . Currently, WWF is committed to the conservation of this species through a project in the Sichuan region to harmonize local development and conservation the giant panda. WWF is also working with some Chinese organizations for a long-term. Another project provides support to Prof. Pan Wenshi, Peking University for a study on behavior, habitat selection and population dynamics of pandas in Wolong. Other activities include support to some of the reserves that are home to species, and local training and education programs.
Scientific name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca
English: Giant panda
French: Panda géant
Classification IUCN Red Data Book: EN-Endangered (threatened)
original distribution: Much of central and southern China
Current Distribution: It is estimated that 1,600 individuals survive, divided into 29 populations. Of these, about 800 are located in 13 reserves. The mountainous area of \u200b\u200bMinshan covers the provinces of Sichuan and Gansu, and houses the largest population of giant panda: in this area about 500 individuals survive in the mountains of Qinling panda population in the second lived in China.
Article taken from: http://www.wwf.it
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