Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Save the Pandas

As of today there are over 40,000 endangered species in the world. One of the world's most endangered species is known as the Giant Panda with only 1000-2000 currently living in the wild. The Giant Panda is known to be one of the most beloved animals in the world. They can be found in the mountain forests of Southwest China and are identified by their distinctive black and white fur. The Giant Panda is a solitary animal, which means it spends 2/3 of its day feeding and the remainder resting. Their diet consists almost entirely of bamboo which they eat about 44 pounds per day. When pandas are between 4-8 years old they are able to start reproducing. However, they are only able to become pregnant 2-3 days every spring.

Due to the fact that pandas reproduce so infrequently makes it very difficult for them to recover from such a low point. One of the main reasons that the Giant Panda has become and endangered species is because of expanding human populations and development. This has caused habitat destruction for the pandas. As the populations increase, their habitats get taken over by development. This causes the pandas to be pushed into smaller and less livable areas. Habitat destruction then leads to food shortages. Some bamboo that the pandas eat blooms in different places and at different times of the year. The bamboo that gets destroyed due to development will leave the pandas with nothing to eat and lead to starvation.

If more people are educated on the fact that Giant Pandas are an endangered species then they can help to make a difference. There are numerous ways to help these pandas. Since habitat loss is a serious threat it is necessary to establish new reserves and extend existing ones. Researchers are continuing to study how pandas breed in hopes to help increase their population. The Chinese Government have developed bamboo corridors in isolated parts of the forests allowing the pandas to move to new areas, find food, and meet potential breeding mates.

Rebecca Thomas (3)

http://www.onekind.org/education/animals_a_z/panda_giant/
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/giant_panda/panda/where_panda_lives_habitat/
http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/giant-panda/

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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 10, 2016 at 10:28 AM

    Hopefully these conservation efforts pay off but you do bring up the good point about the poor reproductive success of the species. I've read articles about conservation efforts in zoos where the caretakers have serious difficulty in getting the pandas to reproduce. Maybe awareness will help fund these conservation efforts.

    Allen Currier

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  2. Peter HoulihanMarch 10, 2016 at 11:02 AM

    This was a very interesting blog! I knew panda's are an endangered species but I didn't really know why. I didn't know that a reason why there aren't many pandas left is because they don't reproduce as often as many organisms do. I do agree with you that if more people were educated enough about pandas and more endangered species there would be more of them. it's terrible to hear of human development killing out such beautiful animals such as pandas.

    Stephanie Aboody

    ReplyDelete
  3. Peter HoulihanMarch 20, 2016 at 4:05 PM

    Really enjoyed reading about them, i found myself in the same boat as much of the human population is in when it comes to how much we know about the giant panda! The first thought that came to my head after reading this was maybe scientists and other environmentalists can research the types of bamboo the pandas like most and plant more of it and spread out the types of bamboo all of the forest so it becomes easier for the pandas to find food. I definitely agree that theres needs to be more effort put into awareness and protection of and for these pandas before it's too late!
    -Kelsey Morrison

    ReplyDelete
  4. Peter HoulihanMarch 20, 2016 at 4:05 PM

    Really enjoyed reading about them, i found myself in the same boat as much of the human population is in when it comes to how much we know about the giant panda! The first thought that came to my head after reading this was maybe scientists and other environmentalists can research the types of bamboo the pandas like most and plant more of it and spread out the types of bamboo all of the forest so it becomes easier for the pandas to find food. I definitely agree that theres needs to be more effort put into awareness and protection of and for these pandas before it's too late!
    -Kelsey Morrison

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 28, 2016 at 12:48 PM

    Pandas are such a cool animal, it is sad to read about their endangerment and difficulty breeding. I am curious if scientists were able to figure out what days in the spring the pandas are able to get pregnant so they can try to repopulate certain areas. Also, I think it is very important to spread the word about wildlife conservation, especially pandas, because I do not think a lot of people know the danger the species is in. And if they did know, I'm sure they would donate.

    Posted by: Ashley Geary

    ReplyDelete
  6. stenoteMay 5, 2018 at 7:41 PM

    Agree with you...save and breed panda... Read an article about the Pandas in Chengdu , China, in https://stenote.blogspot.com/2017/08/
    Watch also in youtube https://youtu.be/Djy2N4Zn4lE

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