Lynn+Vuong+-+Giant+Panda

= = =The Giant Panda=

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Scientific Name: Ailuropoda Melanoleuca
=Natural Habitat & Location=

The majority of Giant Pandas live in the wild; living mainly in broadleaf and coniferous forests and mountain ranges in central and southwest China, at elevations between 5,000 to 10,000 feet high.

The Pandas have been found to live generally in the Gansu, Shaanxi, and Sichuan provinces. =Niche=

A wild giant panda's diet consist 99% of bamboo. The diet of a giant panda living in a contained facility, on the other hand, may include bamboo, sugar canes, rice gruel, carrots, apples, and sweet potatoes. A panda's digestive system is about the same as a carnivores, although it is a herbivore. Most active during the day, it spends 10-16 hours a day foraging, or eating, and eats up to 20-80 pounds of bamboo a day; and spends the rest of the time sleeping. Magnificent! The size of a giant panda is approximately that of an American Black Bear, ranging from 2-3 feet in width and 4-6 feet in length (on its feet). A male panda normally weighs about 250 pounds while a female panda rarely reaches 220 pounds. According to scientists, the average lifespan of a giant panda is unknown; but they are sure that wild pandas have a shorter lifespan then zoo pandas. The oldest giant panda lived in a zoo and lived to be 35 years old. The panda reaches maturity and can begin breeding between the ages of 4 and 8. They can be reproductive until they are 20. Considering that adult pandas are usually solitary, reproduction is a slow process; even after producing offspring, the cubs stay with their mothers while the male panda ventures off. Pandas communicate through scent marks, calls, and occasional meetings.

=How Fun!=

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 * Being a symbol of friendship, the first panda was sent to the U.S, from China, in 1936.
 * In its lifetime, a female panda may only successfully raise 5-8 cubs.
 * Pandas often tumble and roll in somersaults because it is hard for them to move quickly!
 * It has been said that the spots of black on a giant panda was to protect them from predators.
 * Pandas can be dangerous when approached in the wild. The may seem cute and cuddly but bears are bears.
 * The Giant Panda is indeed a bear, which took a DNA test to figure out.
 * Under the pandas white skin is black skin, and under that is PINK skin!
 * Pandas can't go 5-6 hours without food.
 * Some people believed that sleeping on panda skin could protect them from ghost and predict their future.

=Why You Ask?=

The ESA (Endangered Species Act) was passed on 1973 to protect plants and animals that are at risk of becoming extinct. Depending on how many are left in the wild, the species could be put under 2 categories, endangered or extinct. Due to farming, forest clearings, introduction of new (invasive) species, and other developments, the Ailuropoda Melanoleuca, also known as the Giant Panda, is now one of the many endangered animals in the world. Since 2004, a recorded 1600 pandas were left in the wild, and about 600 living in zoos and breeding centers.

=Conservation Efforts=

In China, the Giant Panda is considered a national treasure and is therefore under legal protection. In 1998, logging was banned, relieving the pandas from one of its biggest threats. Over 50 reserves have been established over the years protecting more then 60% of the panda population. More reserves have been proposed, and the releasing of some adult pandas living in breeding centers have been suggested but nothing has been done yet. As said above, the reproduction of giant pandas are a slow process, which has had a negative effect on the efforts to save the species. Organizations such as the WWF (World Wild Life) have been trying to raise awareness for endangered animals such the giant panda since 1961.

=Work Cited=

Ailuropoda Melanoleuca - http://www.greendaily.com/photos/gallery-of-endangered-species/433818/ Provinces - http://www.panasianbiz.com/all-about-china/map-of-china-the-15-most-useful/ How Fun! - http://www.pandaexpress.com/pandakids/html/fun_facts/fact10.html Why You Ask? - http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/esa.html Why You Ask? - http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/giantpanda/panda.html Habitat, Location, Niche - http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/giantpanda/panda.html

(All retrieved October 14, 2009)