Endangered Animals: The Giant Panda

By: Hillary Chan and Seher Sarin

THE GIANT PANDA•a black and white bear •black fur on ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs, and shoulders•rest of the animal's coat is white•has a thick, wooly coat, keeps it warm in the cool forests of its habitat

•listed as endangered in the World Conservation Union's (IUCN's) Red List of Threatened Species•about 1,600 left in the wild•approx. 300 pandas live in capitivity, mostly in China

HABITAT•live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a dense understory of bamboo•elevations between 5,000 and 10,000 ft•forests have torrential rains or dense mist throughout the year•heavy clouds, little sun

FOOD AND WATER•99% bamboo•the balance consists of other grasses and occasional small rodents or musk deer fawns•in zoos, giant pandas eat:• bamboo• sugar cane• rice gruel• a special high-fiber biscuit• carrots• apples• sweet potatoes

FEEDING ADAPTATIONS•Pandas eat while sitting upright, like how humans sit on the floor•This leaves the front paws free to grasp bamboo stems•have a pseudo thumb, a long wrist bone to help with holding food•uses its powerful jaws and strong teeth•digestive system is more similar to that of a carnivore than an herbivore•Needs about 20-40 pounds of bamboo•sleeping and resting when not eating

FEEDING ADAPTATIONS

The Giant Panda’s pseudo thumb, used for eating bamboo.

SIZE AND LIFESPANSize:•About the size of an American black bear•stand between two and three feet tall at the shoulder (on all four legs), and reach four to six feet long•males are larger than females, weighing up to 250 pounds in the wild•females rarely reach 220 pounds

Life span:•Pandas live longer in zoos than wild•Chinese scientists have reported zoo pandas as old as 35

SIZE AND LIFESPAN

For comparison:Red panda vs. Giant Panda vs. Black Grizzly Bear

REPRODUCTION•reach breeding maturity between 4-8 yrs of age•Females ovulate only once a year, in the spring•She can only conceive for 2-3 days during ovulation•Calls and scents draw males and females together•Female giant pandas give birth between 95 and 160 days after mating•Only one child survives although two are born•Cubs stay with their mothers for up to three years before going out on their own•Females can only produce young every other year; in her lifetime, she may successfully raise only 5 to 8 cubs

FUN FACTS1. The Chinese once hunted the giant

panda, believing that its pelt provided magical protection against evil spirits.

2. They can climb as high as 4,000 meters to feed on higher slopes in the summer season.

WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED•Because of their slow reproductive abilities, it is hard for giant pandas to recover their population from such a low point•Their threats include:• Habitat destruction• Illegal hunting• Poaching

WHY GIANT PANDAS MATTER•Pandas play a crucial role in the bamboo forests where they roam by spreading seeds and facilitating growth of vegetation•Pandas bring huge economic benefits to low income, local communities especially in rural China through ecotourism

WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE THEM•Increase the area of panda habitat under legal protection•Continue raising awareness against poaching, illegal logging and encroachment

FUNDRAISING PLAN•create an organization that supports Giant Pandas and stops them from becoming extinct•the organization would host various events and fundraisers to raise awareness and money to support the Giant Pandas and give them a better futureExamples include:•Community bake sales•Outdoor summer lawn movie showings•Yard sales•Community BBQ day

GOALS AND ASPIRATIONSOur company’s future expansion project:•Host a concert annually with famous bands, singers and performers to invite the city of Toronto to engage and be educated about this cause•Charge a nominal entrance fee, market off different seating price points, sell merchandise and refreshments•Small entrance fee for events allows for a large audience to come because the main objective is to raise awareness•Corporations can sponsor these events to show their support

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