The panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca, literally meaning "black and white cat-foot") is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the Panda's diet is 99% bamboo. Other parts of its diet include honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges, and bananas when available.Why Pandas Disappear?
Panda's requirements are very restrictive, for example their diet; they really only eat bamboo, and in such quantities that it requires large bamboo forests, with dense undergrowth to support them. They can now only be found in south-china. The "specialists" of the animal kingdom is in a way "predisposed" toward endangerment, and need to be watched or monitored closely when they come into contact with humans, or during any weather events that can cause serious damage to their habitat.
The main reason that pandas are dying out is the habitat loss. Their main source of food is bamboo, which takes a long time to grow. This problem wasn't present when pandas were spread throughout the massive south-east of Asia, including China. Hence, when a forest of bamboo was being consumed by them, or a forest bloomed out, they could simply move to another bamboo forest, but as the forests have been cut down the Pandas are finding food supply harder to find after a bloom out.
In addition, industrialization needs people to clear off these ranges or lands for factories and agriculture. Hence, bamboo forests in Asia started to decline tremendously. Wild pandas have been reported to die because of starvation simply because they cannot reach the next bamboo forest quickly enough, or at all. Habitat fragmentation affects their feeding, and mating as well, anytime the Panda has to leave their territory, they are at risk.
Pandas, too, are picky regarding their mates. But an even larger problem than the panda's selective behavior is, females are only fertile, or in their reproductive cycle for about 5 days. For a male to find a female in the wild, and quickly enough to mate with her while she is still fertile, is a small miracle. The odds are against it happening, there are a lot fewer pandas surviving in the wild, and the habitat is filled with fences, walls, roads, and other obstacles.
Another reason for pandas' extinction is that they are getting hunted by people who have little conservation knowledge and lack of concern, or cares about the balance and well-being of the ecosystem. Money and coats can't call back pandas if they are one day extinct. This is the thing that all people should know.
Conservation Distribution
In 2006, scientists reported that the number of pandas living in the wild may have been underestimated at about 1,000. Previous population surveys had used conventional methods to estimate the size of the wild panda population, but using a new method that analyzes DNA from panda droppings, scientists believe that the wild panda population may be as large as 3,000. Although the species is still endangered, it is thought that the conservation efforts are working. As of 2006, there were 40 panda reserves in China, compared to just 13 reserves two decades ago.
Want to know how to save pandas?
Go to http://www.ehow.com/how_2063160_save-endangered-pandas.html
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