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The cute and adorable Giant Panda is universally loved,
and of course has a special significance for World
Wildlife Fund ( WWF ) as it has been the organization's
symbol since it was formed in 1961. Many scientists
classify the Giant Panda as a raccoon, rather than a
bear. The Giant Panda's forepaw is different from that
of the other bears as it has an elongated wrist bone
that provides a sixth finger, giving the panda the
ability to grasp bamboo stems, its main food.
Giant Pandas live in dense bamboo and coniferous
forests at altitudes of 5000 to 10000 feet in Central
and Western China. The mountains are shrouded in heavy
clouds with torrential rain or dense mist throughout the
ear. Pandas do not hibernate but often relocate to lower
altitudes in winter and spring.
Pandas eat huge amounts of bamboo and spend 50% to
75% of the day feeding. Pandas stay on the ground most
of the time, but climb trees for shelter or to hide from
enemies, especially the leopards.
Today, the Giant Panda's future remains uncertain.
The latest survey revealed that there are about 1600 of
them left in the wild. The main threat to the survival
of the pandas is the destruction of their habitat.
Cattle, sheep and goats graze on emerging bamboo
seedlings and this prevents the regeneration of the
bamboo forest. Apart from that the hooves of these
animals loosen the thin mountain soil, making it
difficult for the bamboo to grow. In the last thirty
years, Sichuan has lost some 30% of its forests, and
more than half of the natural forest vegetation has been
destroyed or disturbed so badly that it no longer
provides a suitable panda habitat. Giant Pandas are also
victims of poaching as their dense fur carries a high
price in illegal markets in the Far East. Added to this,
are the panda's poor reproductive rte and the low
survival rate of the infants.
The Giant Panda will become extinct in the next
century unless steps are taken to protect its habitat.
To ensure its survival, the Chinese government issued a
National Conservation Management Plan for the Giant
Panda and its Habitat. So far, eleven national parks
have been set up to allow the pandas to live in their
natural habitat. Plans are under way to release all
captive-born pandas into the wild. To ensure its
survival, efforts are made to reduce human activities in
the panda habitat. The Chinese government has also
imposed life sentences on those convicted of poaching
Giant Pandas.
The Giant Panda is the pride of the People's Republic
of China. In the 1970s, loans of Giant Pandas to
American and Japanese zoos formed an important part of
the diplomacy of the People's Republic of China. By
1984, however, pandas were no longer used as agents of
diplomacy. Instead, China began to offer pandas to other
nations on ten-year loans. The standard loan terms
include a fee of up to US$ 1,000,000 per year and a
provision -- any cubs born during the loan are the
'property' of the People's of Republic of China. |
