The Rare Giant Panda

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that once the geographic range of the Giant Panda extended throughout Burma, Vietnam and particularly southern and eastern China as far north as Beijing; today the remaining tatters of China's bamboo forests support only about 1,000 wild pandas in the mountains of central China's Sichuan Province, high in the mountains, shrouded in heavy clouds with torrential rains or dense mist throughout the year. The author points out that scientists have debated for more than a century whether giant pandas belong to the bear family, the raccoon family or a separate family of their own; recent DNA analysis indicates that giant pandas are more closely related to bears. The paper relates that scientists are conducting research in order to preserve the panda through the study of infant development and mating behaviors such as the importance of urine scents similar to dog mating.

From the Paper:

"The newborn panda weighs barely a quarter of a pound, even though the mother weighs typically two hundred pounds. Most mammals, with which we are familiar when born find their way to the nipple to nurse. The panda mother cradles her baby against her body "so it can snuggle into her warm fur and feed" much like an ape. Immediately upon giving birth, the mother panda fasts for days, devoting all her time to the newborn. An interesting fact about the birth of twins, which happens about fifty percent of the time, is that the mother chooses one and lets the other die. Scientists believe that is due to the care the frail infant requires and the mother can only provide for one."

More papers on The Rare Giant Panda:

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