The Endangered Giant Panda

By: Janie Klapko

My Focus

Reproductive methods used to increase the giant panda population› Past› Present› Future

Background Information The giant panda has been termed a “critically

endangered species” (Pérez-Garnel)

Only about 1,000 pandas live in the wild today, with approximately 100-200 living in captivation.

Approaches for increasing the giant panda population:› Captive (“Natural”) Breeding› Artificial Insemination/In Vitro Fertilization› Habitat Rehabilitation› Poaching/Trading Laws

Factors Leading to Endangerment

Poaching/Trading› Due to popularity of animal

Habitat Destruction› Commercial logging

Famine due to the constant rise and fall of available of bamboo.› First recorded: 1974-1976

Bad Immune System

Reproductive Issues

Reproductive Complications Females have only one 1-3 day period to conceive per year.

Don’t even begin to reproduce until approximately 5-6 years old.

Subsequent Embryonic Loss

Lack of male/female contact in wild—due to decreased population

Crushing young: Large mother-to- baby size ratio› Low birth weight› Slow growth rate

“Both female and male captive giant pandas exhibit reproductive problems, and breeding [the] giant panda in captivity has proved to [be] difficult”

--Ming-Juan Liao 

Previous Attempts at Reproduction

Natural Reproduction in Captivity› Hard to achieve right timing because of small frame of

opportunity to reproduce

Artificial Insemination (AI)› Extracting sperm from males

Use of Exogenous Gonadotropins › Increased ovulation

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)› Invasive to males and females

Debate on IVF Should focus on improving habitat only

Dangerous› Panda too valuable

Expensive

“Fertilization biologist Chen Dayuan, of the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, says it is ‘neither practical nor helpful’ as a way to increase the number of pandas” (Meiyue)

Tentative Argument I think further research needs to be

done on how to reproduce pandas naturally, because this will be the safest, and less expensive approach.

If artificial methods must be used, they should test more trials on animals that are not endangered.

Works Cited (Scholarly Sources)

Gittleman, John. "Are the Pandas Successful Specialists Or Evolutionary Failures?" Bioscience 44.7 (1994): 456. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 14 Nov. 2011.

Kersey, David C., et al. “Unique biphasic progestagen profile in parturient and non-parturient giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) as determined by faecal hormone monitoring.” The Journal of the Society for Reproduction and Fertility (2010): 183-193. Web. 6 Nov. 2011.

Liao, Ming-Juan, et al. “Cloning and sequence analysis of FSH and LH in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).” Animal Reproduction Science 77 (2003): 107-116. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.

Meiyue, Z. “IVF project stirs debate over how to preserve pandas.” Science 272 (1996):1580. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 6 Nov. 2011.

Pérez-Garnelo, Sonia S., et al. "Characteristics and in vitro fertilizing ability of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa obtained 4 hours postmortem: A case report.”  Zoo Biology. Vol. 23. New York, NY: Wiley-Liss. 279-85. Web. 8 Nov. 2011.

Works Cited (Other Sources)

Ashley, Sabrina. "What Is Difference Between In Vitro and Artificial Insemination?”eHow. Demand Media, Inc. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.<http://www.ehow.com/about_4673493_difference-between-vitro-artificialinsemination.html>.

Ming'ai, Zhang, and He Shan. "A 20-year History of the Giant Panda” China.org.cn. Ching.org.cn, 26 Nov. 2007. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.<http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/233213.htm>.

"WWF - Giant Panda - Overview." World Wildlife Fund – Wildlife Conservation,Endangered Species Conservation.World Wildlife Fund, 2011. Web. 9 Nov.2011.<http://www.worldwildlife.orgspecies/findergiantpandapanda.html>.