Giant Panda

In China, it is a national treasure, and for WWF these animals have a special significance since it has been the organization's symbol since it was formed in 1961.The giant panda's future remains uncertain. This peaceful, bamboo-eating member of the bear family faces a number of threats. Its forest habitat, in the mountainous areas of southwest China, is fragmented and giant panda populations are small and isolated from each other. Meanwhile, poaching remains an ever-present threat.

Why is this species important?

Saving the panda is not just about saving a cute animal. The panda is an amazing species, but above all it is the symbol of one of the most important regions in China: the Yangtze Basin. 

The survival of the panda and the protection of its habitat will ensure the quality of life of millions of people living in the area. Panda habitat is found at the top of the Yangtze Basin, an ecoregion shared by both pandas and communities who have utilized the region's natural resources for millenia. 
The Basin is the geographic and economic heart of China, and is one of the critical places for biodiversity conservation in the world. Its diverse habitats contain many rare, endemic and endangered animal and plant species, the best known being the giant panda. 

Over 50 reserves created

By mid-2005, the Chinese government had established over 50 panda reserves, protecting more than 10,400km² and over 45% of remaining giant panda habitat.However, habitat destruction continues to pose a threat to the many pandas living outside these areas, and poaching is a further problem. 

What are the main threats to giant pandas?

The major factors disturbing panda habitat today are:

• conversion of forests to agricultural areas,
• medicinal herb collection,
• bamboo harvesting,
• habitat fragmentation,
• poaching,
• and large-scale development activities such as road construction, hydropower development, and mining.

Scientists in China may use a police dog to teach pandas to fight. This after the first artificially-bred panda (pic below), released into the wild was apparently killed after a battle with other animals, reports Reuters. The Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Centre plans to have four pandas live with a specially trained police dog or other animals. The pandas would learn how to protect themselves by observing the dog. Five-year-old Xiang Xiang, the world's first artificially bred panda released into the wild, was found dead in the snow early this year after less than 12 months of freedom… Hmm, can we train them to attack bad people too?

Listen Up, Pandas, You Need to Fight

So cute: Feeding and play time for the 16 baby giant pandas born at Wolong Research Centre in south-west China this year. Photo: China Daily