Where do pandas live in the wild? Economic significance for humans: Negative
Understanding the origin of the word "panda" is not a simple problem. The first mention of the giant panda in literature occurred more than 3,000 years ago in the Book of History and the Book of Songs (the earliest collection of Chinese poetry), which referred to the creature as pi and pixiu.
It was a long time ago. A family of Chinese shepherds settled on the slope of a mountain. Every morning they took out a flock of sheep to graze near the bamboo thickets. And a little panda came out of the forest to play with the sheep, because they were as white as him.
One day a huge leopard attacked a flock of sheep.
The sheep ran away, and the panda could not run fast. And he would not have escaped death, but the young shepherdess was not at a loss and began to beat the leopard with a stick.
She drove away evil beast, but she herself received many wounds. And the brave shepherdess died. When the other pandas learned that the girl gave her life for their fellow panda, they began to cry bitterly and sprinkle themselves with ashes.
Crying, the pandas rubbed their eyes and covered their ears so as not to hear the echoes of universal grief. Consoling each other, they held their paws and sobbed. Since then, the snow-white skins of pandas have turned black, but not entirely, but only on the eyes, ears and paws.
The animal later appeared in Er Ya, the first Chinese dictionary; in the Classics of Seas and Mountains, a famous book on geography; and in Annotated Readings from the Book of Songs. These books gave the panda three new names - mo, zhi yi and bai hu - and described the creature as a white fox, a white leopard, and an animal like a tiger or polar bear. As if the identity of this bamboo lover wasn't already confused enough, the giant panda was also given new names in later literature as meng shi shou (predator), bai bao (white leopard), shi ti shou (iron-eating animal) and zhu xiong ( bamboo bear). To this day, the Chinese name for the giant panda is still a matter of debate. Is it a banded bear (huaxiong), a cat bear (maoxiong), a bear-like cat (xiongmao), or a great panda (daxiongmao)?
Pandas are the common name for two species of Asian mammals of the order of carnivores, somewhat similar to each other in appearance and lifestyle, but belonging to different families. Big panda, or bamboo bear (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), reaches a length of 1.5 m, not counting the tail (another 12.5 cm), and a weight of 160 kg. The animal has a very characteristic pattern: black or dark brown ears, “glasses” around the eyes, nose, lips and limbs, including the shoulder “yoke”, and the rest of the body is white, sometimes with a reddish tint. This species is found in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi, where it lives in dense thickets of bamboo among coniferous forests on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Usually observed at altitudes of 2700–3900 m above sea level, although in winter it sometimes descends to 800 m above sea level. Since the second half of the 20th century, the panda has become something of a national emblem of China. The giant panda feeds almost exclusively on bamboo, sometimes including other plants in its diet, such as irises and saffron, and even small mammals type of rodents. Usually the animal feeds in a sitting position for 10–12 hours a day, holding bamboo shoots with the “pre-thumb” and the first two toes of the front paws, tearing off hard tissue from the plants with its teeth. outer layer and then slowly chewing the peeled stem. This species is on the verge of extinction and is listed in the International Red Book. According to existing estimates, in the mid-1990s there were no more than 1,000 of its individuals left in the wild. Although killing a giant panda carries the death penalty in China, poaching appears to be its main threat. Local peasants kill animals for their fur, and some individuals die in poachers’ traps set for musk deer. The taxonomic position of the giant panda has been controversial for many years: it was classified as a member of the raccoon families (Procyonidae), bears (Ursidae), or allocated to a special panda family (Ailuropodidae). However, molecular analysis, which included a comparison of proteins and DNA of this species and the named groups of carnivores, fully confirmed its proximity to bears, assumed on the basis of anatomical and paleontological data. The ancestors of the giant panda separated from the evolutionary line that led to their modern species 15–25 million years ago, so it was decided to separate it into a special subfamily Ailuropodinae of the bear family.
Red panda (lat. Ailurus fulgens - "cat colored like fire", also known as little panda, “cat-bear”, “fire cat” - an animal of the little panda family, mainly a herbivore, slightly larger in size than a cat. The systematic position of the red panda has long been unclear. It was classified either as a raccoon family, or as a bear family, or as a separate family. However, the latest genetic research showed that the red panda forms own family little pandas (Ailluridae), which, together with the families of raccoons, skunks and mustelids, forms the superfamily marten-like (Musteloidea). Body length 51-64 cm, tail 28-48 cm, weighs 3-4.5 kg. The body is elongated, the tail is fluffy, the head is wide, with a short sharp muzzle and large pointed ears. Has 38 teeth. The paws are short, strong, with semi-retractable claws. The fur of the red panda is red or hazel on top, dark, reddish-brown or black below. The hair on the back has yellow tips. The paws are glossy black, the tail is red, with inconspicuous lighter narrow rings, the head is light, and the edges of the ears and muzzle are almost white, and near the eyes there is a pattern in the form of a mask. In my own way appearance The red panda is closest to the kinkajou. Written mentions of this beast in China go back to the 13th century, but Europeans learned about it only in the 19th century. It was officially “discovered” in 1821 by the English general and naturalist Thomas Hardwicke, who collected material on the territory of the English colonies. He suggested calling this animal the word “wha” - one of its Chinese names, based on the imitation of the sounds made by the animal. In addition, the general said, the Chinese call it “hun-ho” and “poonya”, from which the modern panda is derived. However, the Latin name is Ailurus fulgens (brilliant cat), the new animal was given by the French naturalist Frederic Cuvier. The habitat of the red panda is limited to the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan in China, northern Burma, Bhutan, Nepal and northeast India. It is not found west of Nepal. Lives in mountain bamboo forests at an altitude of 2000-4000 m above sea level in conditions temperate climate. The ancestors of today's pandas were much more widespread; their remains are found in Eastern Europe and North America.
However, these animals were obviously adapted to a certain type climate, with the change of which their range has sharply decreased. The red panda leads a predominantly nocturnal (or rather, crepuscular) lifestyle, sleeping in a hollow during the day, curled up and covering its head with its tail. In case of danger, it also climbs trees. On the ground, pandas move slowly and awkwardly, but they climb trees well, but nevertheless they feed mainly on the ground. Although the red panda is a member of the order of carnivores, 95% of its diet consists of young leaves and shoots of bamboo. The remaining 5% are various fruits, berries, mushrooms, bird eggs and even small rodents. Unlike the giant panda, the small panda is very selective in its diet. If the “bamboo bear” eats almost all parts of the bamboo, the red panda looks for softer shoots. Observations have shown that red pandas spend 13 hours a day feeding. When calm, red pandas make short sounds reminiscent of bird chirping. The red panda has a peaceful character and easily takes root in captivity. Pandas live in pairs or families in forests. The “personal” territory of the female, as recent studies show, occupies an area of about 2.5 km?, the male - twice as much. The breeding season for pandas begins in January. Between mating and childbirth, the female takes from 90 to 145 days, of which only 50 days account for the actual development of the embryo, since fetal development does not begin immediately after conception, but quite a while later. long time called diapause. Shortly before giving birth, the female builds a nest of branches and leaves in a hollow or cleft in a rock. In a litter of 1-2, occasionally there are 4 blind cubs, but rarely more than one survives. They sometimes stay with their mother whole year, until a new litter. Although the habitat of the red panda is very large territory And natural enemies she has little, this species is included in the lists of the International Red Book with the status “Endangered”. The fact is that the density of animals in nature is very low, and, in addition, the habitats of the red panda can easily be destroyed. Fortunately, the red panda breeds well in captivity. Currently, about 300 of these animals are kept in 85 zoos around the world, and the same number have been born in captivity over the past two decades.
The spotted bear, captivating with his good-natured smile, clumsy manner of eating bamboo, funny movements and sweet eyes, has long become a favorite of adults and children.
The giant panda in his black and white “fur coat” looks very attractive. It is considered one of the most ancient animals in the world and is currently on the verge of extinction. Giant pandas live exclusively in high mountains and in the deep valleys of the upper Yangtze River. They feed on leaves and young shoots of bamboo. Due to continuous deterioration natural environment, which led to the flowering of monocarpic bamboo species and their widespread death, the number of giant pandas living in the wild is significantly reduced. Currently, there are only about 1,000 of them worldwide.
A few facts about pandas: The giant panda's special diet is very unusual among mammals. Only a handful of animals depend so heavily on bamboo, including the red panda, bamboo lemurs (golden bamboo lemur, greater bamboo lemur, and bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus)) found in Madagascar, and bamboo rats (including Rhizomys sinensis, R. pruinosus, and R. .sumatrensis), found in China and South-East Asia. (Roberts 1992).
Bamboo varieties typically reproduce using lateral shoots underground. Periodically, bamboo reproduces in another way - by flowering, often over a wide area, producing seeds and then dying. Generally it takes 2 to 3 years before new shoots emerge from the seeds. Between 1974 and 1976, umbrella bamboo (Fargesia), and other bamboo species on which pandas depend, became extinct across large areas of northern Sichuan and China. As a result, at least 138 pandas died. (Schaller et al. 1985)
Although poaching giant pandas was punishable by death by the late 1980s, the financial reward for selling a giant panda skin was so high (more than the lifetime income of the average peasant) that even the death penalty did not seem to be a deterrent: "Even though I risked my life, it was worth it" - this quote from a poacher caught by the police. - "If you hadn't caught me, I would have been rich." (Schaller 1993)
In 1995, a Chinese farmer who shot and killed a giant panda and tried to sell its skin was sentenced to life in prison. (Oryx 1995q).
"Local people hunted pandas a lot before 1949... In recent years, however, most people have realized the rarity and value of the panda, now realizing that the panda is a national treasure, they help rather than kill it. When, for example, a sick adult The panda came to the settlement in October 1978, and the family fed it sugar beets and rice until it left three days later." (Schaller 1985).
The story of this non-bear is very interesting and even romantic. In the second half of the last century, an event occurred in the circles of zoologists and naturalists that alarmed even venerable scientists in many countries. An original colored skin was delivered to the Paris Museum of Natural History large animal, similar at first glance to a bear's. But when they spread it on the floor, they thought that it had been sewn by a skilled craftsman from large scraps of black and white animal fur. Mystery! The skin was thoroughly examined, turned over in the hands this way and that, but no traces of cutting and sewing, gluing or other fastening were found. What kind of skin is this? - the scientists thought. Maybe it belongs to an extinct animal? But some experts objected and believed that the fur on the skin was cleverly etched or dyed, but in reality it was a bear. But who and where obtained and delivered this mystery skin to Paris? In 1869, French missionary Armand David traveled to China. In addition to his religious activities, he, being a naturalist, simultaneously collected information about the animal world of the country and acquired interesting exhibits. In one of the remote villages of Sichuan province, he discovered this strange skin on the fence of a house. David acquired it after local residents told him that it belonged to a real beast that lived in the vicinity of the village, high in the mountains among bamboo thickets. The name of the animal is "bei-shung", which roughly translates to "white mountain bear". A. David managed to send the skin to Paris, and he continued the search for the owner of the skin. He got lucky. In the same year, he acquired a killed bei-shung from hunters, processed it and presented hunting stories sent to France. This was 114 years ago. Having received the second skin and skeleton, scientists were able to draw conclusions. For a great deal external resemblance With an ordinary bear and based on the nature of its diet (A. David reported that bei-shungs feed mainly on bamboo), it was originally called a bamboo bear. However, having carefully studied the received materials, zoologists soon abandoned the hasty identification of a new animal based on many morphological and anatomical features classified as a member of the raccoon family and called the giant panda. Big because earlier, in 1825, the red panda, an animal that lives in some areas of Asia, was added to the family. In appearance, it differs sharply from the newly minted one, and the small and large pandas are listed in their family in various kinds. Years passed, but the original name of the giant panda - bamboo bear - turned out to be tenacious, and it is often used in everyday life, since the external resemblance to a bear is undeniable. I must admit that when I first saw a live giant panda during a trip to China, I was also amazed by its appearance. Well straight away polar bear wearing large horn-rimmed glasses at an animal carnival, wearing a black vest, black gloves, stockings, and headphones. The discovery of an unusual beast, as usual, turned against him. Not only scientists, but also rare miners became interested in the panda hunting trophies, trappers and traders of wild animals. Many adventurers from Europe and the New World flocked to China. But getting to the giant pandas' habitats was extremely difficult. The hunters were faced with high mountains, off-road conditions, dense forests, impenetrable bamboo thickets, numerous water barriers, mountain collapses... With the help of local residents, the first giant panda was caught in 1916, but it quickly died. And only twenty years later, an American woman acquired a young panda and safely delivered her to the USA, to the city of San Francisco. Local hunters, as soon as they caught the animal, named it Su-Lin, which translated meant “a small piece of enormous value.” And this was true. The giant panda is the rarest animal in the world. It is distributed only in the People's Republic of China. Now inhabits mountain forests at an altitude of up to two thousand meters above sea level and higher in Sichuan province. Perhaps it has also been preserved in unexplored, hard-to-reach places in Gansu province and a number of regions of Tibet. The first born in captivity, Su-Lin (it was a female), was exhibited in a number of US zoos. Some time later, after a long search, two adult pandas were again brought to the United States, and then several of these animals ended up in London. Until that time, there were no such animals in any of the zoos in the world. After the Second World War, the habitat areas of these rare animals were declared protected areas. Some research groups began to carefully study Beishungs to find out whether it is possible to keep and breed bamboo bears in captivity. The expeditions were successful. In 1957, the giant panda first settled in our country, in a special house on the territory of the Moscow Zoo. It was a large male named Pin-Pin. And in the summer of 1959, we managed to purchase a second copy, according to the plan, in pair with Pin-Pin. His name was An-An, but, unfortunately, he also turned out to be a male. So two handsome little boys lived with us in Moscow. In 1961, an Austrian businessman took to China large group African animals and exchanged her for a young female giant panda named Chi-Chi. With this zoological star, one of the prominent English zoologists- the owner of Chi-Chi arrived in England, where he sold it to the London Zoological Society for huge money. In 1966, the British suggested that we reunite the Moscow gentleman An-An with Chi-Chi. We agreed, and the overseas bride arrived from London to Moscow on a special flight. It was housed in a transport “carriage” made of plexiglass, non-ferrous metals and plastic. This extraordinary guest was met by zoological scientists, representatives of our government agencies, employees of the capital's zoo, employees of the British embassy and a great many correspondents. One of them said jokingly: “Due to the nature of my work, I often visit international airport capital, but they have never met a single prime minister like this." And indeed, there was a lot of noise. Chi-Chi lived in the Moscow Zoo for six months, but did not make friends with AnAn, and she was sent back. In 1968, the experiment was repeated. This time An -An flew to visit Chi-Chi. He lived in London for six months and also without results. But, as you know, every cloud has a silver lining: both meetings, although they did not give the desired result, helped us better understand the peculiarities of the biology of giant pandas. , no one suspected that animals, good-natured in appearance and completely gentle in character, under certain circumstances, could be very aggressive. Sometimes fierce fights took place between our “informants.” We had to separate them with the help of water cannons and blank shots. hunting rifles, and also use special peaks and shields made of thick plywood. When attacking and defending, the animals showed great dexterity and techniques typical of predators: grabbing the enemy with their front paws, powerful blows to the enemy’s head with their paws, rapid ramming with their entire body weight, grabbing with their teeth, and so on. It turned out that these usually silent animals have very loud voices. The excited Chi-Chi whined, and then made such sharp trumpet sounds that the glass in the windows next door shook. She even mooed, just like a cow. During meetings, the gentleman bleated like a sheep, squealed, and at critical moments of the fight he trumpeted and mooed.
For a long time, nothing was known about the reproduction of giant pandas, but in September 1963, in the Beijing Zoo, a female named Li-Li gave birth to a baby whose weight was 142 grams. He grew very quickly and by the age of five months he had gained ten kilograms. The baby was named Min-Min, that is, “brilliant, sparkling.” For the first ten days after birth, the female did not let him go even while eating. She tossed the two-month-old cub from paw to paw, playing with it like a doll. At three months old, the shiny one began to move independently - the mother would fall asleep, and he would go for a walk, but she quickly woke up, instantly found her child and spanked him with her paw. In September 1964, the same female gave birth to a second baby, and scientists were able to determine that giant pandas carry their cubs for approximately 140 days. Young pandas in captivity are very playful. They are good-natured, funny, move a lot, take the most unusual poses: - they can stand on their heads, helping themselves with their front paws, they tumble over their heads very well, they deftly climb grates and nets, ladders, ropes and poles . With their front paws they hold balls, enamel and aluminum bowls while waiting to be filled with food. They treat people without any hostility, but when playing and fussing, they have no sense of restraint; they can accidentally grab them with their teeth, scratch them with the claws of their front paws and press them against the wall. But at the same time, they are well tamed and quickly remember the nicknames given to them. Having reached three or four years of age, giant pandas become slower, they are no longer so trusting of people, and they have to be handled with caution. The beast is not small. The shoulder height of adult animals is up to seventy, and the body length is up to one hundred and seventy centimeters. Solid and weighty. An adult male who lived in the Moscow Zoo reached 185 kilograms by the age of twelve, and he was not overfed; this is strictly monitored at the zoo.
The "solidity" of adult pandas is expressed in their amazing poses. They can sit as if in a chair, leaning one of their front paws on a ledge and leaning their back against some object. In this position, they can take a nap or slowly do their toilet, or they simply clean the branches of brooms from leaves and slowly chew them. In nature, pandas are active at dawn and at night. The same was observed in the zoo. From about ten in the morning until four or five in the afternoon, most of the time the animals were in the shade, stretched out on the ground of the pen or on the floor of the cage, and dozed. With the onset of twilight they became active, moved a lot, played, fed, and from the traces left we established that in dark time They did not idle for days. Their fur coat is warm, outside temperature air down to minus ten degrees, our pets willingly walked in open enclosures, swam in the snow, and walked a lot with their characteristic waddling gait with a sort of shaking of their heads from side to side. We noticed that pandas are very clean. Most For a while they are silent, only occasionally making sounds similar to bleating. They don't like summer torrential rains, they hide from them in shelters, but after the rain they willingly wander through puddles and damp grass. But they refuse to swim in the pool, they just run in the shallow water, splashing themselves with splashes.
The giant panda has captivated the whole world with its touching appearance. 15 years ago, many experts predicted the extinction of giant pandas because bamboo forests in western China quickly passed out. Currently, according to the most optimistic estimates, a little more than 1,500 animals have survived in natural conditions and the giant panda is officially listed in the Red Book. Serious steps are being taken to prevent its extinction and increase the number of animals. However, giant pandas are well known to zoologists for their low sexual activity, so there are huge problems with breeding them in captivity. Every giant panda born immediately becomes a star.
The red panda is a unique and mysterious animal. In China, where this creature is often found, it is called hunho, which can literally be translated as “fire fox.” IN English language The term firefox is usually used to define this type. It has a similar translation. One of the world-famous browsers took the English version of the name of this creation, and now few people have not heard the name Mozilla firefox.
The red panda is a unique and mysterious animal
When describing the animal in the 19th century, the Latin expression Ailurus fulgens was used, which translated means “fire cat.” It has nothing to do with representatives of the cat family, although there is an external resemblance. Nowadays this term is practically not used. However, what attracts everyone's interest in the red panda is not the names by which it is known in the world. different countries, and the features of life and reproduction of this amazing animal.
For a long time, researchers who studied this unique animal could not accurately determine which family it belongs to. Despite the name firefox, this creature has nothing to do with foxes. It was believed that this animal is a relative of the giant panda, which is found exclusively in China, as it has a certain similarity in terms of color, that is, similar white drawing on the muzzle.
In China, where this creature is often found, it is called hunho, which can literally be translated as “fire fox.”
However, such a comparison is not entirely correct. A long study of the habits and anatomy of these creatures has proven this. In the literature, because of this similarity, for a certain period the animal was described as a dwarf bear. In fact, such a comparison based on external features is not without foundation, since any small bear cub has similar features to such a creature as the Chinese panda. However, the confusion did not stop there, because this species is indeed extremely difficult to attribute to any of the currently existing families.
For some time, the red panda was considered by zoologists to be a species of raccoons, martens and even wolverines. Despite certain similarities, the fire fox also has features that refute such a relationship. Some researchers indicated in the description that this animal is a raccoon dog. Currently, the animal is classified as a separate family of pandas.
The red panda does not look much like a bear. This animal has a characteristic fiery red fur color on its back and most of its muzzle. The fur on the abdomen and legs is usually black or dark brown. There are white spots on the muzzle near the nose, eyes and cheeks. The ears have a light beige fur color. The size of the animal is small. The largest members of the family are slightly larger than an ordinary cat. The body is stocky. The fur is thick.
The paws are tenacious and have fairly long claws that can be half retracted. The weight of the animal rarely exceeds 6.5 kg. The tail is very long and fluffy. It allows the red panda to climb trees better. The small panda has a mouth adapted for an omnivorous lifestyle. She has 38 teeth, which allow the animal to cope with different types of food.
Red Panda (video)
Gallery: red panda (25 photos)
Distribution area of red pandas
These unique animals are extremely picky when it comes to habitat and climate. Currently, they are found exclusively in regions such as:
- northern Burma;
- Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in China;
- Nepal;
- northeast India;
- Butane.
The animals settle mainly in mountainous areas at an altitude of about 2000-4000 m above sea level. To live, animals require dense bamboo groves, interspersed with coniferous and deciduous trees, as well as rhododendrons. This fiery cat shares his environment with a giant panda. Currently this species is endangered. Despite their large distribution area, these creatures are extremely sensitive to any changes. Many researchers claim that their number in nature does not exceed 2,500 individuals. Representatives of the species are scattered throughout large territory. Poaching causes significant damage to these creatures, because the animals are distinguished by beautiful lush fur. In addition, deforestation and bamboo groves, and environmental pollution have a negative impact on the number of animals such as the fire cat.
How do red pandas live in the wild?
Despite the fact that these creatures are persistently classified as predators, this is not entirely true. Animals are omnivores. The fire cat mainly eats bamboo, which makes up 95% of its diet. This animal has a simple stomach, and not a multi-chambered one, like many herbivores, so it chooses exclusively soft young shoots and leaves for food. Because plant food not very nutritious, these creatures are forced to eat almost constantly. This creature consumes approximately 1.5 kg of leaves and another 4 kg of shoots per day. The red panda is usually nocturnal to protect itself from the eyes of predators. If possible, the animal can diversify its diet with plant flowers, roots, berries and some types of mushrooms.
When given the chance, the red panda will readily eat insects, eggs, birds, small lizards and rodents. In some cases, these animals consume carrion. Such a diet allows an animal such as a red panda to receive required amount nutrients. Due to their relatively short legs, pandas are extremely clumsy on the ground, but are excellent climbers. If necessary, animals can make fairly long jumps, which makes it easier for them to move along branches. The living prototype of the Mozilla Firefox browser logo leads a secretive lifestyle. In moments of danger and the breeding season, the animal makes short sounds that can easily be confused with bird chirping. Given the secretive nature of these creatures, not all aspects of their lives are well studied.
During the daytime, animals sleep in tree hollows. They especially often arrange such beds in cold weather. When it's warm outside, the little panda sleeps on the branches. In some ways, the animal actually behaves like a cat. A sleeping animal is almost invisible, as it curls up into a tight ball and covers itself with a fluffy tail. IN natural environment In their habitat, these creatures usually live for about 8-10 years. They cannot sleep in winter because their meager diet fails to gain the required amount of fat. There are known cases when in captivity during creation favorable conditions The life expectancy of animals doubled and reached 18 years.
Reproduction of red pandas
These unique creations They live in pairs in a certain area. Typically, the female’s personal territory is about 2.5 km, and the male’s is about 2 times larger. The breeding season is in January. Despite the cold, the animals become very active. Red pandas usually mate for life. After mating. The embryo begins to develop with a significant delay. Usually there are 1 or 2 cubs in a litter. In rare cases, 4 babies are born.
Immediately before giving birth, the female looks for a suitable hollow, which is lined with soft grass and moss. In such a unique nest, blind and naked cubs are born, whose weight rarely exceeds 100 g. They develop very slowly. Usually 1 cub survives to adulthood.
The female returns to the nest and feeds the babies with milk, which does not contain too many nutrients. Only at 3 months of age do young red pandas reach a size that allows them to leave the nest. After this, they begin to wander with their mother. Typically this period lasts from 6 months to a year. At this time, young individuals learn to get their own food. Red pandas usually reach sexual maturity at 18 months.
These creatures are quite good-natured and easily adapt to life in captivity. Thanks to long-term study of the behavior of animals in their natural habitat, many zoos were able to create ideal conditions. Keeping them at home is impossible, since if they are not fed properly, they die from intestinal infections.
Many European zoos spend huge sums of money to ensure that the red panda optimal conditions. Thanks to this, cases of animals breeding in captivity have increased significantly. Currently, there are nurseries operating in China, where in close to natural conditions red pandas are being bred for their return to the wild. Thanks to their efforts, this unique panda cat is gradually increasing its numbers.
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The giant panda is a mammal from the same family as bears, although for a long time zoologists placed it either in the raccoon family or in its own special family. Pandas feed mainly on young, thin shoots of bamboo and therefore live only where there is a lot of bamboo growing. It is no coincidence that the panda is called the “bamboo bear”. Giant pandas live only in mountain forests several western provinces of China (Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu). Previously, it also lived in mountain bamboo forests in Indochina and on the island of Kalimantan, but its habitat is shrinking due to deforestation and the periodic death of bamboo thickets after mass flowering.
Bamboo blooms rarely: once every 10, or even 100 years, depending on the species. In this case, they immediately bloom, form seeds, and then all the plants die off. large area. It takes bamboo seeds at least a year to take root and sprout, and it takes at least 20 years for a new thicket to grow in the place of a extinct forest. So pandas are forced to look for new thickets where they can feed themselves. Judging by satellite images, natural habitat The giant panda's habitat has been halved over the past 15 years.
Giant pandas are nocturnal animals. Having settled somewhere in the bamboo thickets, the animal breaks off young plants with its front paws and methodically eats leaves, shoots and stems. During the day, pandas sleep somewhere in a secluded place among the rocks or in the hollow of a tree.
In the past, poachers killed these animals for their beautiful skins, but now pandas are under the strictest protection of the law. In China, the giant panda is declared a national treasure. The panda is a very secretive animal, and therefore scientists still know very little about its habits and way of life. For the first time, naturalists observed a living panda in nature only in 1913.
Today, according to scientists, only approx. 1,600 pandas is too few to consider a species safe from extinction. Pandas are kept in many zoos around the world - there they live longer than in the wild. The oldest panda in the zoo was 34 years old. Scientists are trying to get pandas to reproduce in captivity, but the animals form married couples very reluctantly. And even if the cub is born, it is difficult to raise it: the bear cub is born very tiny. A baby panda weighs no more than 100 grams.
Where did the meteorite that killed the dinosaurs fall?
The message about the panda can be used in preparation for the lesson. A story about a panda for children can be supplemented with interesting facts. Brief message O giant panda from the Red Book will tell you where the panda lives, what it eats, how long it lives and how it lives.
Report about panda 4th grade
The giant panda is a rare animal, a species of mammal from the bear family. This is an animal that has an original black and white color wool A unique animal on Earth lives in mountainous areas Central China: Sichuan and Tibet. There are two species of pandas and both are listed in the Red Book.
Lifespan of pandas:20 years (in the wild)
What does a panda look like?
She looks like a small clumsy bear cub. The average body length of a panda is about 1.5 meters. She has white shaggy fur, and her ears, shoulders, chest and paws are black. Almost cat-like eyes are hidden in the black ovals on her face. Overall, the giant panda is a very charming animal.
The panda almost always moves on all four legs, swaying from one side to the other. They can run, but cannot withstand a long chase.
The giant panda is a nocturnal animal. She sleeps during the day in a secluded place.
What does a panda eat?
Pandas' favorite food is bamboo, although pandas are classified as carnivores. Eating takes approximately 16 hours. The panda can also eat mushrooms, flowers, roots, tubers and grass. And sometimes with fish, if she still manages to catch it from the water.
Panda breeding
Every 2-3 years, one cub is born from each female. It happens that several children are born to one female. But the mother can only go out alone. Before giving birth, she sets up a den in a hollow tree, lining it with leaves and branches. In the first three weeks after birth, a mother panda does not leave her helpless cub.
The babies are born blind and weigh only 150 grams. But they grow very quickly. A month after birth, they are already overgrown with fur with black spots, and after another two, their eyes open. Babies begin to walk as soon as three months. After a year, and sometimes a year and a half, the cub already enters an independent life and leaves the mother’s den.
Conservation status: Endangered species.
Listed in the Red Book International Union nature conservation.
The giant panda is a quiet creature with a distinctive black and white costume, widely adored around the world. The panda is also considered a national treasure in China. For WWF ( world fund wildlife) panda has special meaning, since since 1961, the founding of this organization, it has been depicted on their logo.
The giant panda is considered a rare animal in China, and its population is limited to the provinces of Gansu, Sichuan, and Shanxi in the central part of the country. The total range covers 29.5 thousand km², but only 5.9 thousand km² is the habitat range of the giant panda.
Habitat
The giant panda lives in mixed coniferous, mountainous and deciduous forests where bamboo is present.
Description
In general, giant pandas have a round head, stocky body and short tail. The height at the shoulders is 65-70 cm. These animals are well known for their characteristic black and white markings. The limbs, eyes, ears and shoulders are black, while the rest is white. In some regions, the color black actually has a dark red tint. The dark markings around the eyes may be the reason for the popularity of these animals, giving them a naive, juvenile appearance. Enlarged shoulders and neck area along with reduced hindquarters create an ambling gait. The baculum (bone that forms in the connective tissue of the penis) is present in many other mammals. However, in other bears they are straight and pointing forward, while in pandas they are S-shaped and pointing backward.
Giant pandas have several skull bone joints. They have a large sagittal crest that is made wider and deeper by their powerful jaws. The molars and small molars are wider and flatter than those of other bears, which is why pandas have developed the ability to crush tough bamboo. A notable feature of these animals is an additional opposable finger on the hand, known as " thumb pandas." This caused a lot of confusion in the past, when classifying these bears. In fact, it is not a thumb, but a skin protrusion.
Reproduction
Female pandas become more active during the breeding season and use scent markings. A study conducted between sexually active females and inactive pandas suggests that scent markings relate to sexual activity. Males may compete for a female.
Mating occurs from March to May. The female's estrus lasts approximately 1-3 days. Females lose their previous activity during the period of estrus, become restless and lose their appetite. Most babies are born in late summer and early fall. Pregnancy lasts about 6 weeks. At birth, babies are blind and helpless, and their body is covered with a small layer of fur. The weight of newborns is 85-140 g.
After giving birth, the mother helps the baby lie down in a position comfortable for sucking. The cub can be attached to the mother about 14 times a day, lasting up to 30 minutes per feeding. The cubs open their eyes at 3 weeks of life, move independently at 3-4 months, and are weaned mother's milk at approximately 46 weeks. The cub remains with its mother for up to 18 months. Giant pandas do not reproduce well in captivity.
When studying the behavior of giant pandas in captivity, it was found that in half of the cases twins are born. The mother, as a rule, gives preference to one of them, and the second soon dies.
Lifespan
One giant panda is known to have reached the age of 34 in captivity, but this is rare. The average lifespan of these animals is 26 years, and occasionally 30 years.
Behavior
Unlike many other bears, giant pandas do not fall into hibernation. But they go down to more low altitudes during the winter. Giant pandas do not build permanent burrows, but rather take refuge in trees and caves. They are primarily terrestrial animals, but are also good climbers and swimmers. Giant pandas are mostly solitary except during breeding season. Panda mothers play with their cubs, not only to soothe the babies, but also for fun. Some mothers often wake up their cubs to play with them.
Diet
Giant pandas have a strict energy reserve. They move little and, as a rule, obtain food while moving. Giant pandas can spend 10-12 hours a day eating. Bamboo is the pandas' main source of nutrition, but the animal only gets about 17% of its nutrients from the leaves and stems. Giant pandas are well known for their upright feeding posture, which allows their front legs to freely handle bamboo stalks. An extra finger on a panda's hand helps it tear bamboo. The walls of the panda's stomach are extremely muscular, thanks to which woody food is digested, and the intestines are covered with a thick layer of mucus, which protects against splinters.
Their diet consists of: bamboo stems and shoots, fruits, plants, small mammals, fish and insects.
Threats
The black and white coat of giant pandas may have served as protection against predators in the past when pandas were exposed to predation pressure. The black and white pattern gives them a zebra-like appearance. Additionally, in the past, when these pandas lived in snowy regions, the white color may have helped these bears hide in the surrounding area. However, today pandas live in almost snow-free areas. Fortunately, today there are no predators that threaten pandas.
Role in the ecosystem
The giant panda population is closely related to bamboo abundance and vice versa. Pandas help distribute bamboo seeds throughout the surrounding area. However, pandas significantly reduce the amount of bamboo, which makes it difficult for themselves to find food. Protected panda habitats will help preserve natural habitats.
Economic value for humans: Positive
Giant pandas have been hunted for their fur. In recent years the hide has been seen as a valuable sleeping mat; it is convenient, but is also believed to have supernatural protection against ghosts and help predict the future through dreams. Panda skin is highly prized in Japan, with prices reaching around $100. Giant pandas are also popular in zoos and attract many people.
Economic significance for humans: Negative
There's no real evidence negative influence giant pandas, primarily due to their rarity. Pandas occupy areas that could be considered valuable areas for agriculture, but the presence of pandas, and their economic impact on tourism and ecosystem conservation, is likely to outweigh any negative impacts.
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