The Giant Panda
The giant panda, infamously known for their black markings and playful behavior, is among one of the most endangered species in the world. Pandas in the wild have few natural enemies; their species decline is mostly due to overpopulation of humans who continue to take up land space and lack of food during the intervals of bamboo blossom season. This paper will discuss the pandas’ ecology, subdivided into categories of their diet, habitat and behavior, how humans first developed a relationship with the pandas, leading into the reasons that caused the pandas to become enlisted under the endangered species list, and conclude with human developments that help the giant pandas survive. Pandas have similar appearances to that of a bear and are known to originate from China. The pandas distinctiveness from ordinary bears are due to their predominate white fur body with black fur surrounding their eyes, ears, legs and shoulders (3, pg 1). An average panda can reach the length of three to four feet and weigh between 185 to 245 pounds (3, pg 1). The pandas’ diet is mainly dependent on bamboo and other vegetations, although they are taxonomically labeled as carnivores, as most bears are. Pandas are labeled as carnivores because they have the digestive system of a carnivore, and that system is not able to digestive or process the cellulose contained in their diet adequately. Since they cannot regularly digest the food they consume, pandas constantly eat, sometimes as much as eighty-three pounds of bamboo in one day (3, pg 1). Depending on one main food source can be dangerous, especially since the a type of bamboo called arrow bamboo, located in central China, undergoes a blossoming period once every forty-five to fifty years, which became a problem in 1983 (4, pg 2). During a blossoming period, the arrow bamboo in that location transforms into flower to scatter their seeds, and then dies (2, pg 2). The bamboo supply will become adequate for the pandas in that area