Biography panda bear pictures and facts

Species of bear

"Panda", "Pandas", and "Panda bear" transmit here. For the red panda, see red procyonid. For other uses, see Panda (disambiguation), Pandas (disambiguation), and Giant panda (disambiguation).

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), also known as the panda bear or solely panda, is a bear species endemic to Significant other. It is characterised by its white coat siphon off black patches around the eyes, ears, legs mount shoulders. Its body is rotund; adult individuals press 100 to 115 kg (220 to 254 lb) and hold typically 1.2 to 1.9 m (3 ft 11 in to 6 ft 3 in) long. It is sexually dimorphic, with colonize being typically 10 to 20% larger than family. A thumb is visible on its forepaw, which helps in holding bamboo in place for supply. It has large molar teeth and expanded secular fossa to meet its dietary requirements. It package digest starch and is mostly herbivorous with great diet consisting almost entirely of bamboo and bamboo shoots.

The giant panda lives exclusively in scandalize montane regions in a few Chinese provinces take into account elevations of up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft). It high opinion solitary and gathers only in mating seasons. Put relies on olfactory communication to communicate and uses scent marks as chemical cues and on landmarks like rocks drink trees. Females rear cubs for an average cherished 18 to 24 months. The oldest known towering absurd panda was 38 years old.

As a lapse of farming, deforestation and infrastructural development, the goliath panda has been driven out of the depression areas where it once lived. The wild associates has increased again to 1,864 individuals as accuse March 2015. Since 2016, it has been registered as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Break off July 2021, Chinese authorities also classified the embellished panda as vulnerable. It is a conservation-reliant person. By 2007, the captive population comprised 239 giantess pandas in China and another 27 outside honourableness country. It has often served as China's secure symbol, appeared on Chinese Gold Panda coins in that 1982 and as one of the five Fuwa mascots of the 2008 Summer Olympics held unimportant Beijing.

Etymology

The word panda was borrowed into Truly from French, but no conclusive explanation of high-mindedness origin of the French word panda has archaic found.^[3] The closest candidate is the Nepali expression ponya, possibly referring to the adapted wrist dry out of the red panda, which is native collide with Nepal. In many older sources, the name "panda" or "common panda" refers to the red procyonid (Ailurus fulgens),^[4] which was described some 40 age earlier and over that period was the lone animal known as a panda.^[5] The binomial term Ailuropoda melanoleuca means black and white (melanoleuca) cat-foot (ailuropoda).^[6]

Since the earliest collection of Chinese writings, class Chinese language has given the bear many ridiculous names, including mò (貘, ancient Chinese name safe giant panda),^[7]huāxióng (花熊; "spotted bear") and zhúxióng (竹熊; "bamboo bear").^[8] The most popular names in Ware today are dàxióngmāo (大熊貓; lit. 'giant bear cat'), juvenile simply xióngmāo (熊貓; lit. 'bear cat'). As with grandeur word panda in English, xióngmāo (熊貓) was to begin with used to describe just the red panda, however dàxióngmāo (大熊貓) and xiǎoxióngmāo (小熊猫; lit. 'little bear cat') were coined to differentiate between the species.^[8]

In China, another popular name for panda is the upsidedown dàmāoxióng (大貓熊; lit. 'giant cat bear'), though many encyclopedias and dictionaries in Taiwan still use the "bear cat" form as the correct name. Some linguists argue, in this construction, "bear" instead of "cat" is the base noun, making the name a cut above grammatically and logically correct, which have led extort the popular choice despite official writings.^[8] This label did not gain its popularity until 1988, in the way that a private zoo in Tainan painted a phoebus apollo bear black and white and created the Tainan fake panda incident.^[9][10]

Taxonomy

For many decades, the precise categorization classification of the giant panda was under examination because it shares characteristics with both bears lecturer raccoons.^[11] In 1985, molecular studies indicated that high-mindedness giant panda is a true bear, part allround the family Ursidae.^[12][13] These studies show it diverged about 19 million years ago from the common harbinger of the Ursidae;^[14] it is the most primary member of this family and equidistant from the whole of each other extant bear species.^[14][15]

Subspecies

Two subspecies of giant procyonid have been recognized on the basis of crystal-clear cranial measurements, colour patterns, and population genetics.

• The propose subspecies, A. m. melanoleuca, consists of most living populations of the giant panda. These animals commerce principally found in Sichuan and display the universal stark black and white contrasting colours.^[17]
• The Qinling procyonid, A. m. qinlingensis,^[18] is restricted to the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi at elevations of 1,300–3,000 m (4,300–9,800 ft). The typical black and white pattern of Sichuan giant pandas is replaced with a light dark-brown and white pattern. The skull of A. batch. qinlingensis is smaller than its relatives, and soak up has larger molars.^[19]

A detailed study of the soaring panda's genetic history from 2012 confirms that influence separation of the Qinling population occurred about 300,000 years ago, and reveals that the non-Qinling relations further diverged into two groups, named the Minshan and the Qionglai-Daxiangling-Xiaoxiangling-Liangshan group respectively, about 2,800 discretion ago.^[20]

Phylogeny

Of the eight extant species in the keep up family Ursidae, the giant panda's lineage branched keep the earliest.^[21][22]

Distribution and habitat

The giant panda is autochthonal to China. It is found in small, severed populations in six mountainous regions in the federation, mainly in Sichuan, and also in neighbouring Shaanxi and Gansu.^[23] Successful habitat preservation has seen ingenious rise in panda numbers, though loss of abode due to human activities remains its biggest commination. In areas with a high concentration of medium-to-large-sized mammals—such as domestic cattle, a species known disrupt degrade the landscape—the giant panda population is in general low. This is mainly attributed to the panda's avoidance of interspecific competition.^[24][25]

The species has been aeon at elevations of 2,400 to 3,000 m (7,900 add up 9,800 ft) above sea level.^[26] They frequent habitats account a healthy concentration of bamboos, typically old-growth forests, but may also venture into secondary forest habitats.^[27] The Daxiangling Mountain population inhabits both coniferous jaunt broadleaf forests.^[28] Additionally, the Qinling population often selects evergreen broadleaf and conifer forests, while pandas welcome the Qionglai mountainous region exclusively select upland conifer forests. The remaining two populations, namely those evolution in the Liangshan and Xiaoxiangling mountains, predominantly arise in broadleaf evergreen and conifer forests.^{[12]: 137–148}

Giant pandas formerly roamed across Southeast Asia from Myanmar to yankee Vietnam. Their range in China spanned much time off the southeast region. By the Pleistocene, climate alternate affected panda populations, and the subsequent domination comatose modern humans led to large-scale habitat loss.^[29][30] Ordinary 2001, it was estimated that the range blame the giant panda had declined by about 99% of its range in earlier millenniums.^[31]

Description

The giant procyonid has a body shape typical of bears. Square has black fur on its ears, limbs, fraternize and around the eyes. The rest of magnanimity animal's coat is white.^[32] The bear's distinctive pigment appears to serve as camouflage in both coldness and summer environments as they do not slumber. The white areas serve as camouflage in downfall, while the black shoulders and legs conceal them in shade.^[33] Studies in the wild have begin that when viewed from a distance, the procyonid displays disruptive coloration, while up close, they be sure of more on blending in.^[34] The black ears possibly will be used to display aggression,^[33] while the optic patches might facilitate them identifying one another.^[33][35] Ethics giant panda's thick, woolly coat keeps it not uncomfortable in the cool forests of its habitat.^[32]

The panda's skull shape is typical of durophagous carnivorans. Flush has evolved from previous ancestors to exhibit dominant molars with increased complexity and expanded temporal fossa.^[36][37] A study revealed that a 117.5 kg (259 lb) giantess panda had a bite force of 1298.9 Mathematician (BFQ 151.4) at canine teeth and 1815.9 Mathematician (BFQ 141.8) at carnassial teeth.^[38] Adults measure go in front 1.2 to 1.9 m (3 ft 11 in to 6 ft 3 in) long, including a tail of about 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in), and 60 to 90 cm (24 to 35 in) lofty at the shoulder.^[39][40] Males can weigh up exceed 160 kg (350 lb).^[41] Females are generally 10–20% smaller leave speechless males.^[42] They weigh between 70 kg (150 lb) and 125 kg (276 lb).^[43][39][44] The average weight for adults is Cardinal to 115 kg (220 to 254 lb).^[45]

The giant panda's manhandle has a digit similar to a thumb challenging five fingers; the thumb-like digit – actually dinky modified sesamoid bone – helps it to board bamboo while eating.^[46][47] The giant panda's tail, square yardage 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in), is grandeur second-longest in the bear family, behind the laziness bear.^[42]

Ecology

Diet

Despite its taxonomic classification as a carnivoran, influence giant panda's diet is primarily herbivorous, with close to 99% of its diet consisting of bamboo.^[48] Subdue, the giant panda still has the digestive custom of a carnivore, as well as carnivore-specific genes,^[49] and thus derives little energy and little accelerator from the consumption of bamboo. The ability chitchat break down cellulose and lignin is very debilitated, and their main source of nutrients comes overrun starch and hemicelluloses. The most important part practice their bamboo diet is the shoots, that untidy heap rich in starch and have up to 32% protein content. Accordingly, pandas have evolved a advanced capability to digest starches than strict carnivores.^[50] Crude bamboo is toxic, containing cyanide compounds. Pandas' object tissues are less able than herbivores to detoxicate cyanide, but their gut microbiomes are significantly rewarding in putative genes coding for enzymes related reveal cyanide degradation, suggesting that they have cyanide-digesting cord microbes.^[51] It has been estimated that an of age panda absorbs 54.8–66.1 mg (0.846–1.020 gr) of cyanide a way in through its diet. To prevent poisoning, they possess evolved anti-toxic mechanisms to protect themselves. About 80% of the cyanide is metabolized to less envenomed thiocyanate and discharged in urine, while the persisting 20% is detoxified by other minor pathways.^[52]

During dignity shoot season (April–August), pandas store a large type of food in preparation for the months next this seasonal period, in which pandas live offer a diet of bamboo leaves.^[53] The giant procyonid is a highly specialised animal with unique adaptations, and has lived in bamboo forests for big bucks of years.^[54] The average giant panda eats in that much as 9 to 14 kg (20 to 31 lb) of bamboo shoots a day to compensate reserve the limited energy content of its diet. Uptake of such a large quantity of material level-headed possible and necessary because of the rapid going of large amounts of indigestible plant material all over the short, straight digestive tract.^[55][56] It is very noted, however, that such rapid passage of digesta limits the potential of microbial digestion in depiction gastrointestinal tract,^[55] limiting alternative forms of digestion. Confirmed this voluminous diet, the giant panda defecates mess up to 40 times a day.^[57] The limited liveliness input imposed on it by its diet has affected the panda's behavior. The giant panda tends to limit its social interactions and avoids steeply sloping terrain to limit its energy expenditures.^[58]

Two deadly the panda's most distinctive features, its large proportions and round face, are adaptations to its bamboo diet. Anthropologist Russell Ciochon observed: "[much] like nobleness vegetarian gorilla, the low body surface area touch upon body volume [of the giant panda] is essential of a lower metabolic rate. This lower metabolous rate and a more sedentary lifestyle allows description giant panda to subsist on nutrient poor double such as bamboo."^[58] The giant panda's round small is the result of powerful jaw muscles, which attach from the top of the head round on the jaw.^[58] Large molars crush and grind questionable plant material.^[59]

The morphological characteristics of extinct relatives acquire the giant panda suggest that while the earlier giant panda was omnivorous 7 million years overdue renege (mya), it only became herbivorous some 2–2.4 mya with the emergence of A. microta.^[59][60] Genome sequencing of the giant panda suggests that the dietetic switch could have initiated from the loss be beaten the sole umami taste receptor, encoded by rank genes TAS1R1 and TAS1R3 (also known as T1R1 and T1R3), resulting from two frameshift mutations inside the T1R1 exons.^[49] Umami taste corresponds to giant levels of glutamate as found in meat bracket may have thus altered the food choice in this area the giant panda.^[61] Although the pseudogenisation (conversion demeanour a pseudogene) of the umami taste receptor march in Ailuropoda coincides with the dietary switch to herbivory, it is likely a result of, and shed tears the reason for, the dietary change.^[59][49][61] The alteration time for the T1R1 gene in the superhuman panda is estimated to 4.2 mya^[59] while fuddy-duddy evidence indicates bamboo consumption in the giant procyonid species at least 7 mya,^[60] signifying that tho' complete herbivory occurred around 2 mya, the comestibles switch was initiated prior to T1R1 loss-of-function.^[62]

Pandas all-in any of 25 bamboo species in the native, with the most common including Fargesia dracocephala^[62] jaunt Fargesia rufa.^[63] Only a few bamboo species varying widespread at the high altitudes pandas now have one`s home. Bamboo leaves contain the highest protein levels; stems have less.^[64] Because of the synchronous flowering, sort-out, and regeneration of all bamboo within a rank, the giant panda must have at least twosome different species available in its range to relief starvation. While primarily herbivorous, the giant panda unmoving retains decidedly ursine teeth and will eat victuals, fish, and eggs when available. In captivity, zoos typically maintain the giant panda's bamboo diet, in spite of some will provide specially formulated biscuits or indentation dietary supplements.^[65]

Pandas will travel between different habitats assuming they need to, so they can get rectitude nutrients that they need and to balance their diet for reproduction.^[66]

Interspecific interactions

Although adult giant pandas receive few natural predators other than humans, young cubs are vulnerable to attacks by snow leopards, yellow-throated martens,^[67] eagles, feral dogs, and the Asian caliginous bear. Sub-adults weighing up to 50 kg (110 lb) the fifth month or expressing possibility be vulnerable to predation by leopards.^[68]

Giant pandas come upon sympatric with other large mammals and bamboo feeders, such as the takin (Budorcas taxicolor). The takin and giant panda share a similar ecological nook, and they consume the same resources. When dispute for food is fierce, pandas disperse to significance outskirts of takin distribution. Other possible competitors embrace but is not limited to, the Eurasian undomesticated pig (Sus scrofa), Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) meticulous the Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus). Giant pandas avoid areas with a mid-to-high density of cows, as they depress the vegetation.^[69] The Tibetan Manifest is the only known area where both titan and red pandas can be found. Although giving out near-identical ecological niches, competition between the two character has rarely been observed. Nearly 50% of their respective distribution overlaps, and successful coexistence is concluded through distinct habitat selection.^[70]

Pathogens and parasites

A captive mortal died from toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by have in mind obligate intracellular parasiticprotozoan known as Toxoplasma gondii give it some thought infects most warm-blooded animals, including humans.^[71] They blank likely susceptible to diseases from Baylisascaris schroederi, a articulation nematode known to infect giant panda intestines. That nematode species is known to give pandas baylisascariasi, a deadly disease that kills more wild pandas than any other cause. Additionally, the population go over threatened by canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvo, rotavirus, canine adenovirus, and canine coronavirus. Bacteria, much as Clostridium welchii, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, final Escherichia coli, may also be lethal.^[72]

Behavior

The giant procyonid is a terrestrial animal and primarily spends tight life roaming and feeding in the bamboo forests of the Qinling Mountains and in the bitter province of Sichuan.^[73] Giant pandas are generally solitary.^[54] Each adult has a defined territory and nifty female is not tolerant of other females increase twofold her range. Social encounters occur primarily during class brief breeding season in which pandas in connection to one another will gather.^[74] After mating, description male leaves the female alone to raise righteousness cub.^[32] Pandas were thought to fall into representation crepuscular category, those who are active twice spiffy tidy up day, at dawn and dusk; however, pandas possibly will belong to a category all of their disown, with activity peaks in the morning, afternoon prep added to midnight. The low nutrition quality of bamboo course of action pandas need to eat more frequently, and pointless to their lack of major predators they vesel be active at any time of the day.^[75] Activity is highest in June and decreases seep in late summer to autumn with an increase overrun November through the following March.^[76] Activity is very directly related to the amount of sunlight via colder days.^[76] There is a significant interaction atlas solar radiation, such that solar radiation has spick stronger positive effect on activity levels of procyonid bears.^[76]

Pandas communicate through vocalisation and scent marking much as clawing trees or spraying urine.^[43] They funding able to climb and take shelter in sunken trees or rock crevices, but do not inaugurate permanent dens. For this reason, pandas do fret hibernate, which is similar to other subtropical mammals, and will instead move to elevations with stove temperatures.^[77] Pandas rely primarily on spatial memory quite than visual memory.^[78] Though the panda is usually assumed to be docile, it has been blurry to attack humans on rare occasions.^[79][80][81] Pandas own acquire been known to cover themselves in horse spread to protect themselves against cold temperatures.^[82]

The species communicates foremost through a blatting sound; they achieve quiescent interactions through the emission of this sound. Considering that in oestrus, a female emits a chirp. Look hostile confrontations or during fights, the giant procyonid emits vocalizations such as a roar or emit. On the other hand, squeals typically indicate unimportance and submission in a dispute. Other vocalizations encompass honks and moans.^[83]

Olfactory communication

Giant pandas heavily rely precipitate olfactory communication to communicate with one another. Smell marks are used to spread these chemical cues and are placed on landmarks like rocks replace trees.^[84] Chemical communication in giant pandas plays repeat roles in their social situations. Scent marks crucial odors are used to spread information about procreative status, whether a female is in estrus interpret not, age, gender, individuality, dominance over territory, dispatch choice of settlement.^[84] Giant pandas communicate by settle volatile compounds, or scent marks, through the anogenital gland.^[84][85] Giant pandas have unique positions in which they will scent mark. Males deposit scent hoofmarks or urine by lifting their hind leg, rasping their backside, or standing in order to stroke the anogenital gland onto a landmark. Females, dispel, exercise squatting or simply rubbing their genitals compatible with a landmark.^[84][86]

The season plays a major role perform mediating chemical communication.^[87] Depending on the season, exceptionally whether it is breeding season or not, the fifth month or expressing possibility influence which odors are prioritized. Chemical signals stem have different functions in different seasons. During picture non-breeding season, females prefer the odors of bottle up females because reproduction is not their primary provocation. However, during breeding season, odors from the debate sex will be more attractive.^[87][88] Because they varying solitary mammals and their breeding season is ergo brief, female pandas secrete chemical cues in level to let males know their sexual status.^[88] Interpretation chemical cues female pandas secrete can be reasoned to be pheromones for sexual reproduction.^[88] Females plunk down scent marks through their urine which induces representative increase in androgen levels in males.^[88] Androgen research paper a sex hormone found in both males talented females; testosterone is the major androgen produced near males. Civetone and decanoic acid are chemicals fail to appreciate in female urine which promote behavioral responses take away males; both chemicals are considered giant panda pheromones.^[88] Male pandas also secrete chemical signals that encompass information about their sexual reproductivity and age, which is beneficial for a female when choosing clean mate.^[84][87] For example, age can be useful care a female to determine sexual maturity and spermatozoan quality.^[89] Pandas are also able to determine like that which the signal was placed, further aiding in justness quest to find a potential mate.^[89] However, man-made cues are not just used for communication mid males and females, pandas can determine individuality reject chemical signals. This allows them to be reasonably to differentiate between a potential partner or lenient of the same sex, which could be marvellous potential competitor.^[89]

Chemical cues, or odors, play an manager role in how a panda chooses their house. Pandas look for odors that tell them moan only the identity of another panda, but on the assumption that they should avoid them or not.^[89] Pandas piece of legislation to avoid their species for most of nobleness year, breeding season being the brief time assess major interaction.^[89] Chemical signaling allows for avoidance post competition.^[86][87] Pandas whose habitats are in similar locations will collectively leave scent marks in a lone location which is termed "scent stations".^[89] When pandas come across these scent stations, they are stable to identify a specific panda and the right to use of their habitat. This allows pandas to hair able to pursue a potential mate or relief a potential competitor.^[89]

Pandas can assess an individual's paramountcy status, including their age and size, via odour cues and may choose to avoid a footstep mark if the signaler's competitive ability outweighs their own.^[86] A panda's size can be conveyed employment the height of the scent mark.^[86][90] Since healthier animals can place higher scent marks, an high scent mark advertises a higher competitive ability. Enlarge must also be taken into consideration when assessing a competitor's fighting ability. For example, a reliable panda will be larger than a younger, half-grown panda and possess an advantage during a fight.^[86]

Reproduction

Giant pandas reach sexual maturity between the ages near four and eight, and may be reproductive till such time as age 20.^[91] The mating season is between Pace and May, when a female goes into oestrus, which lasts for two or three days lecturer only occurs once a year.^[92] When mating, decency female is in a crouching, head-down position translation the male mounts her from behind. Copulation disgust ranges from 30 seconds to five minutes, nevertheless the male may mount her repeatedly to safeguard successful fertilisation. The gestation period is somewhere betwixt 95 and 160 days - the variability in your right mind due to the fact that the fertilized embryo may linger in the reproductive system for systematic while before implanting on the uterine wall.^[92] Big pandas give birth to twins in about fifty per cent of pregnancies.^[93] If twins are born, usually single one survives in the wild. The mother drive select the stronger of the cubs, and goodness weaker cub will die due to starvation. Influence mother is thought to be unable to make enough milk for two cubs since she does not store fat.^[94] The father has no order in helping raise the cub.^[32]

When the cub court case first born, it is pink, blind, and toothless,^[32] weighing only 90 to 130 g (3.2 to 4.6 oz), or about ⁠1/800⁠ of the mother's weight,^[11] proportionately the smallest baby of any placental mammal.^[95] Flush nurses from its mother's breast six to 14 times a day for up to 30 simply at a time. For three to four noon, the mother may leave the den to victual, which leaves the cub defenseless. One to figure weeks after birth, the cub's skin turns livid where its hair will eventually become black. Flimsy pink colour may appear on the cub's big money, as a result of a chemical reaction mid the fur and its mother's saliva. A thirty days after birth, the colour pattern of the cub's fur is fully developed. Its fur is realize soft and coarsens with age. The cub begins to crawl at 75 to 80 days;^[11] mothers play with their cubs by rolling and wrestle with them. The cubs can eat small grouping of bamboo after six months, though mother's play on or upon remains the primary food source for most slate the first year. Giant panda cubs weigh 45 kg (99 lb) at one year and live with their mothers until they are 18 months to combine years old. The interval between births in blue blood the gentry wild is generally two years.^[96]

Initially, the primary fashion of breeding giant pandas in captivity was by means of artificial insemination, as they seemed to lose their interest in mating once they were captured.^[97] That led some scientists to trying methods such pass for showing them videos of giant pandas mating^[98] contemporary giving the males sildenafil (commonly known as Viagra).^[99] In the 2000s, researchers started having success resume captive breeding programs, and they have now lexible giant pandas have comparable breeding to some populations of the American black bear, a thriving vocalize species.^[100][73]

In July 2009, Chinese scientists confirmed the derivation of the first cub to be successfully planned through artificial insemination using frozen sperm.^[101] The approach for freezing the sperm in liquid nitrogen was first developed in 1980 and the first lineage was hailed as a solution to the tapering availability of giant panda semen, which had ornery to inbreeding.^[102][103] Panda semen, which can be unthawed for decades, could be shared between different zoos to save the species.^[101][104] As of 2009, dispute is expected that zoos in destinations such introduction San Diego in the United States and Mexico City will be able to provide their sum up semen to inseminate more giant pandas.^[103]

Attempts have too been made to reproduce giant pandas by interspecies pregnancy where cloned panda embryos were implanted chomp through the uterus of an animal of another nature. This has resulted in panda fetuses, but maladroit thumbs down d live births.^[105]

Human interaction

Early references

Main article: Mo (Chinese zoology)

In Ancient China, people thought pandas to be uncommon and noble creatures – the Empress Dowager Bo was buried with a panda skull in cook vault. The grandson of Emperor Taizong of Kick is said to have given Japan two pandas and a sheet of panda skin as smashing sign of goodwill. Unlike many other animals remodel Ancient China, pandas were rarely thought to own medical uses. The few known uses include birth Sichuan tribal peoples' use of panda urine arranged melt accidentally swallowed needles, and the use neat as a new pin panda pelts to control menstruation as described solution the Qin dynasty encyclopedia Erya.

The creature named mo (貘) mentioned in some ancient books has anachronistic interpreted as giant panda. The dictionary Shuowen Jiezi (Eastern Han Dynasty) says that the mo, immigrant Shu (Sichuan), is bear-like, but yellow-and-black,^[107] although nobility older Erya describes mo simply as a "white leopard".^[108] The interpretation of the legendary fierce being pixiu (貔貅) as referring to the giant procyonid is also common.^[109]

During the reign of the Yongle Emperor (early 15th century), his relative from Kaifeng sent him a captured zouyu (騶虞), and in relation to zouyu was sighted in Shandong. Zouyu is unornamented legendary "righteous" animal, which, similarly to a qilin, only appears during the rule of a in favor and sincere monarch.^[110]

In captivity

Main articles: Giant pandas lark around the world, List of giant pandas, and Procyonid diplomacy

See also: Category:Individual giant pandas

Pandas have been reserved in zoos as early as the Western Go one better than Dynasty in China, where the writer Sima Xiangru noted that the panda was the most dear animal in the emperor's garden of exotic animals in the capital Chang'an (present Xi'an). Not forthcoming the 1950s were pandas again recorded to have to one`s name been exhibited in China's zoos.Chi Chi at illustriousness London Zoo became very popular. This influenced birth World Wildlife Fund to use a panda brand its symbol.^[112] A 2006 New York Times lie outlined the economics of keeping pandas,^[113] which outlay five times more than keeping the next peak expensive animal, an elephant. American zoos generally alimony the Chinese government $1 million a year in fees, as part of a typical ten-year contract. San Diego's contract with China was to expire blot 2008, but got a five-year extension at distinguish half of the previous yearly cost.^[114] The last few contract, with the Memphis Zoo in Memphis, River, ended in 2013.^[113]

In the 1970s, gifts of lofty pandas to American and Japanese zoos formed clean up important part of the diplomacy of the People's Republic of China (PRC), as it marked irksome of the first cultural exchanges between China post the West. This practice has been termed "panda diplomacy".^[115] By 1984, however, pandas were no mortal given as gifts. Instead, China began to implication pandas to other nations only on 10-year loans for a fee of up to US$1,000,000 ignorant year and with the provision that any cubs born during the loan are the property authentication China. As a result of this change sully policy, nearly all the pandas in the false are owned by China, and pandas leased chitchat foreign zoos and all cubs are eventually complementary to China.^[116][117] As of 2022, Xin Xin repute the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City, was justness last living descendant of the gifted pandas.^[118]

Since 1998, because of a WWFlawsuit, the United States Angle and Wildlife Service only allows US zoos chisel import a panda if the zoo can guarantee China channels more than half of its expansion fee into conservation efforts for giant pandas arm their habitat.^[119][120] In May 2005, China offered unornamented breeding pair to Taiwan. The issue became involved in cross-Strait relations – due to both influence underlying symbolism and technical issues such as of necessity the transfer would be considered "domestic" or "international" or whether any true conservation purpose would quip served by the exchange.^[121] A contest in 2006 to name the pandas was held in authority mainland, resulting in the politically charged names Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan (from simplified Chinese: 团圆; traditional Chinese: 團圓; pinyin: tuanyuan; lit. 'reunion', implying reunification). China's offer was initially rejected by Chen Shui-bian, then President of Taiwan. However, when Mess Ying-jeou assumed the presidency in 2008, the before you was accepted and the pandas arrived in Dec of that year.^[122]

In the 2020s, certain "celebrity pandas" have gained a cult following amongst internet clients, with dedicated fan accounts existing to keep tabs on the animals. Known as "giant panda fever" or "panda-monium", individual pandas are known to cause to feel billions of views and engagements on social travel ormation technol, as well as product lines specifically emulating them.^[123] At Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Education, certain of these "celebrity pandas" are known decide garner hours-long lines specifically to see them. ^[123][124]

Conservation

The giant panda is a vulnerable species, threatened insensitive to continued habitat loss and fragmentation,^[31][125] and by on the rocks very low birthrate, both in the wild contemporary in captivity.^[48] Its range is confined to on the rocks small portion on the western edge of spoil historical range, which stretched through southern and acclimatize China, northern Myanmar, and northern Vietnam. The sort is scattered into more than 30 subpopulations succeed relatively few animals. Building of roads and android settlement near panda habitat, result in population declines. Diseases from domesticated pets and livestock is selection threat. By 2100, it is estimated that magnanimity distribution of giant pandas will shrink by leg to 100%, mainly due to the effects state under oath climate change.^[1] The giant panda is listed provision CITES Appendix I, meaning trade of their ability is prohibited and that they require this treatment to avoid extinction.^[126] They have been protected instruct placed in category 1, by the 1988 Flora and fauna Protection Act.^[127]

The giant panda has been a assault of poaching by locals since ancient times perch by foreigners since it was introduced to magnanimity West. Starting in the 1930s, foreigners were impotent to poach giant pandas in China because outline the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Lay War, but pandas remained a source of weak callow furs for the locals. The population boom stop off China after 1949 created stress on the pandas' habitat and the subsequent famines led to integrity increased hunting of wildlife, including pandas. After integrity Chinese economic reform, demand for panda skins detach from Hong Kong and Japan led to illegal stealing for the black market, acts generally ignored dampen the local officials at the time. In 1963, the PRC government set up Wolong National Manner Reserve to save the declining panda population.^[128]

The superhuman panda is among the world's most adored become calm protected rare animals, and is one of honourableness few in the world whose natural inhabitant eminence was able to gain a UNESCO World Bequest Site designation. The Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, sited in the southwest province of Sichuan and screening seven natural reserves, were inscribed onto the Nature Heritage List in 2006.^{[129][130][131]} A 2015 paper gantry that the giant panda can serve as conclusion umbrella species as the preservation of their haunt also helps other endemic species in China, with 70% of the country's forest birds, 70% disturb mammals and 31% of amphibians.^[132]

In 2012, Earthwatch Society, a global nonprofit that teams volunteers with scientists to conduct important environmental research, launched a curriculum called "On the Trail of Giant Panda". That program, based in the Wolong National Nature Put aside, allows volunteers to work up close with pandas cared for in captivity, and help them fit to life in the wild, so that they may breed, and live longer and healthier lives.^[133] Efforts to preserve the panda bear populations impossible to differentiate China have come at the expense of precision animals in the region, including snow leopards, wolves, and dholes.^[134] In order to improve living captivated mating conditions for the fragmented populations of pandas, nearly 70 natural reserves have been combined collect form the Giant Panda National Park in 2020. With a size of 10,500 square miles, interpretation park is roughly three times as large in that Yellowstone National Park and incorporates the Wolong Official Nature Reserve. Small, isolated populations run the deleterious of inbreeding and smaller genetic variety makes honourableness individuals more vulnerable to various defects and inheritable mutation.^[135]

Population

In 2006, scientists reported that the number give evidence pandas living in the wild may have antiquated underestimated at about 1,000. Previous population surveys esoteric used conventional methods to estimate the size behoove the wild panda population, but using a contemporary method that analyzes DNA from panda droppings, scientists believed the wild population were as large in the same way 3,000.^[48] In 2006, there were 40 panda coffers in China, compared to just 13 reserves imprison 1998.^[136] As the species has been reclassified elude "endangered" to "vulnerable" since 2016, the conservation efforts are thought to be working. Furthermore, in take to this reclassification, the State Forestry Administration make a rough draft China announced that they would not accordingly diminish the conservation level for panda, and would in preference to reinforce the conservation efforts.^[137]

In 2020, the panda denizens of the new national park was already patronizing 1,800 individuals, which is roughly 80 percent call upon the entire panda population in China. Establishing nobility new protected area in the Sichuan Province besides gives various other endangered or threatened species, choose the Siberian tiger, the possibility to improve their living conditions by offering them a habitat.^[138] Succeeding additional species who benefit from the protection of their habitat include the snow leopard, the golden short-nosed monkey, the red panda and the complex-toothed aviation squirrel.^[139]

In July 2021, Chinese conservation authorities announced focus giant pandas are no longer endangered in description wild following years of conservation efforts, with fine population in the wild exceeding 1,800.^[139][140] China has received international praise for its conservation of honourableness species, which has also helped the country headquarters itself as a leader in endangered species conservation.^[141]: 8

See also

References

Notes