1. T HE G IANT P ANDA : E NDANGERED S PECIES P ROJECT ‘09 http://4.bp.blogspot.co m Tess Curran Block E June 11 th 2009

2. C LASSIFICATION Bear? Or Red Panda? Scientist who discovered pandas, Pere David Armand believed the panda to be a bear, but others took a look, and the question began… (Source 1) http://www.icis.com/blogs/asian-chemical-connections/black-bear.jpg http://tigertailfoods.com/wp/wp- content/uploads/2009/05/red_panda_close_up.jpg

3. F INAL D ECISION, D EBATE O NGOING Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae Genus: Ailuropoda Species: A. Melanoleuca (Source 5)

4. W EIGHT AND S TATS WWF, http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/photography/index.html -63-75” long -Males are 187-275 pounds, Females 154-220 pounds (Source 8) -Delayed Implantation (Source 1) -Cubs move at 6 months, leave mother at 18 months (Source 8) http://www.beijingholidays.net/

5. D IET 99% is bamboo (Source 12) Originally ate meat- 33 ft long intestines v. 160 ft long As a result, 20-30% of nutrients in bamboo is absorbed, so pandas must spend 14 hours a day eating (Source 7) Can sometimes eat - Birds, rodents, carrion meat (Source 2) -Bark, wild parsnips, willow leaves, irises (Source 1) WWF, http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/photography/index.html

6. A DAPTATIONS Large, flat teeth for grinding bamboo Extra molar, rounded cheek bones Solid lining extending through mouth, esophagus, and stomach (Source 4) Developed thumb (extended wrist bone) Source 2 Sharp claws, flexible- back paws point inward, making it slow but adept climber (Source 1) http://www.skullsunlimited.com/graphics/bc-29-lg.jpg WWF, http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/photography/index.html

7. H ABITAT Forests of central china (Source 9) Must include: -Thick bushes for shelter -Hollow fir trees for dens -Close to water- will ignore ½ mile away (Source 1) ◦ Solitary animals- saves energy for foraging ◦ Will go to lower elevations in winter for warmer climate (Source 8) http://www.hawh.cn/admin/upload_file/img/ http://indritours.com/upload/images/newslet_panda_02.jpg

8. I NTERACTION Seek each other out in the mating season, occasionally throughout the year. Share forests with these animals: (Source 3) http://www.freewebs.com/iansferret/W1.JPG http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses http://www.breederretriever.com/bloghttp://www.freewebs.com/iansferret/W1.JPGhttp://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courseshttp://www.breederretriever.com/blog http://www.operationcharm.org/http://www.quantum-conservation.org/

9. D ECREASES IN POPULATION

10. W HY ?? M AIN POINTS China’s large population forces peasants into higher elevations. (Source 8) Deforestation and logging. (Source 11) Fragmentation leads to inbreeding and less mating (Source 8). Bamboo dies every 40-80 yrs. 10% of the population died in 1970’s (Source 11). Pandas give birth to only one cub every other year (Source 5). Breeding in captivitiy is difficult- pandas are prone to mental problems. (Source 5) Female ovulation only 1-2 days each year. Females are ‘picky’ with whom they mate (source 5). Artificial insemination is difficult- Zookeepers are reluctant to loan pandas out from zoos for research (Source 1). http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK282838.htm

11. Hunting- one pelt can go for a peasant’s entire life savings. o 140 illegal skins were found in past years- almost 10% (source 8). o Natural disasters- Biologists are still not sure about direct impact, but… o Earthquake May 12,2006 destroyed 8% of the habitat and the Wolong Nature Reserve (source 10). o Parasites can prevent panda growth and prevent from breeding (Source 1). o Nature reserves weren't managed properly. o Money shortages and under training. (Source 6). o 1983-’87, 30 panda cubs were taken from the wild (Source 6). WWF, http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/photography/index.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive

12. CONSERVATION EFFORTS