THE
GIANT
PANDA
BEAR:
(AILUROPODA
MELANOLEUCA)
The Giant Panda is listed on Appendix I of CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which prohibits all international trade in these animals, or products and part thereof.
It is believed that there are fewer than 1000 Giant Pandas left in the wild, following hunting, massive habitat and food source loss, and the increasing isolation of population pockets. Despite the establishment of nearly 60 reserves, a ban on logging and widespread attempts at reforestation, the Giant Panda's habitat is still under threat.
The Giant Panda has evolved a highly specialised diet, feeding almost exclusively on bamboo. This is so low in calories that the panda had to feed for almost 16 hours a day to get sufficient nutrition from it. This low energy diet means that cubs are the smallest of all non-marsupial mammals. They weigh just 130 grams at birth and reach 30 kilograms only after a year. To maximise their chances, breeding mothers, like most bear species, are able to delay implantation, which allows the female to temporarily stop the development of the embryo until such time as food supplies are at their best for weaning cubs. Nonetheless, female Giant Pandas will at most give birth to seven or so cubs over a lifetime, despite being able to reach the age of 25.
With such dismal prospect for the wild population, captive breeding programs are a vital source of information on the reproductive habits of the Giant Panda. Great strides have been made in that area following research in artificial insemination as well as monitoring hormonal peaks. It also offers hope that in future captive bred pandas might be reintroduced successfully into the wild to boost numbers. Furthermore, surveys conducted on Panda reserves in China are proving a great help in understanding the needs of this mammal to ensure its future survival. Recent research on breeding habits have highlighted previously unknown issues, such as the degrading quality of suitable dens, information which can be put in direct use in Panda reserves, where artificial dens can be tested in the field.