The giant panda is no longer extinct . This animal, in the wild, lives in the humid bamboo forests of Tibet and southwest China, in remote mountainous regions. Only between 500 and 1,000 mature or adult specimens remain in their natural habitat, but there are already many more young individuals and there are still more in captivity, under the care of specialists who have dedicated themselves to their recovery. Thus, the Ailuropoda melanoleuca has been in danger of extinction for several decades, but when its bad condition began to be detected, a series of projects and programs for its preservation and recovery began to be carried out and it seems that they have borne fruit. .
In this AgroCorrn article, we tell you all about the status of this species and also why it has been in danger of extinction for so long .
- Is the panda bear in danger of extinction or no longer?
- Why the panda is in danger of extinction – reasons why it was
- How has the panda bear ceased to be endangered?
Index
Is the panda bear in danger of extinction or no longer?
For those who today wonder if the panda is going extinct , we have good news: panda bears are NO longer in danger of extinction . In recent years, the official records of its population have improved and now the species has been classified in a state of vulnerability, just the previous step to the state of danger in which they were, so it seems that little by little they are recovering. . You can check the panda bear’s file on the Red List of Threatened Species or IUCN Red List Of Threatened Species to verify that it is now in a vulnerable state and its population has increased.
There are several factors that have made them start to move forward: from better care of the panda’s habitat by the government to constant monitoring and support programs for its reproduction and care in captivity.
We hope that they will continue with the trend of population increase and that, little by little, they will be able to return to total freedom and not find themselves at risk of disappearing again.
Why the panda is in danger of extinction – reasons why it was
Although now the Ailuropoda melanoleuca or panda bear is no longer extinct, it continues to have threats. What are the threats from pandas? What were the main causes of it being one of the most endangered animals in Asia and around the world? In addition, these same causes are what continue to make them vulnerable and find it difficult to return to total freedom.
The panda’s habitat is in danger
Until recently it was believed that the giant panda only ate bamboo. However, thanks to recent research, it has been discovered that it also feeds on other plants (both its leaves and bulbs and roots) and even insects, small birds, fish and mammals that are also small in size. However, its staple food is bamboo : it can eat up to 40 kilos a day. As a curiosity, in the video that you will see at the end of this section you will be able to discover more information about what the panda bear eats .
China is experiencing unparalleled development, and this implies the loss of the forests that are home to the panda. In addition, bamboo forests are being fragmented, as they are crossed by roads and artificial water pipes.
A few years ago, according to a spokesperson for WWF China, if its habitat is not controlled, the panda could be extinct in a couple of generations. Fortunately, this situation has improved somewhat.
Poaching
On the other hand, poaching also endangers the panda; the purpose of the hunt is the sale of the animal to western zoos and the use of the skins. In any case, the Chinese government is making important efforts for the preservation of the giant panda. Thus, since 2005 more than 50 reserves have been created.
The reproduction of the panda bear
The panda bear has a hard time reproducing in captivity, so the efforts being made in certain zoos to prevent its extinction have taken a long time to bear fruit, although, luckily, it seems that in recent times there has been good progress. Also in their habitat it is difficult for them to reproduce , although not so much.
WWF (which by the way adopted the image of the giant panda as its logo, since its inception in 1961) continues to help the Chinese government in the search for new solutions to prevent the panda from becoming extinct and allowing them to return to nature. Hopefully this collaboration will bear fruit.
How has the panda bear ceased to be endangered?
Thus, as we have clarified before, the giant panda has managed to leave the range of “danger of extinction” to become vulnerable , but how have they managed to improve and move a little further away from risk?
The truth is that the Chinese government and a large number of organizations have done their part for decades to prevent its disappearance. Very strict protection policies have been carried out, conservation programs, including care and reproduction in various centers and protected areas, people’s awareness and sensitization have been considerably increased, among many more measures.
However, the new category of vulnerable status does not guarantee the salvation of the panda bear , since it is about carrying out constant work maintaining the improvement of its population, with special emphasis on the conservation of the habitat and avoiding its hunting, since if it is not done in a short time they could go backwards.
If you want to read more articles similar to Does the panda bear become extinct? , we recommend that you enter our category of Endangered Animals .
Hello, I am a blogger specialized in environmental, health and scientific dissemination issues in general. The best way to define myself as a blogger is by reading my texts, so I encourage you to do so. Above all, if you are interested in staying up to date and reflecting on these issues, both on a practical and informative level.