Pandas in East Asia

Introduction

This essay talks about how pandas are facing threats to their survival. Pandas face various problems in the form of logging, infrastructure development, poaching and hunting. Panda is famous for its pelts and its skin. Panda skin is useful in the making of blankets, clothes and some time for decorative purposes. East Asian governments are applying strict measures and punishments in place to save the species from extinction. The incidents of hunting and poaching have decreased significantly. There remains a lot to be done. The most critical angle is to educated locals about how pandas benefit the eco-system. The Chinese government now provides this education to villagers. Patrol officers receive training to guarantee natural reserves are safe for pandas and boundaries observed to the limit. These measures are yielding benefits and locals are now lending support by identifying where pandas require assistance. Globally, countries are also paying their role in the process by setting up preservation reserves to raise pandas.

Characteristics of Pandas

The Giant Panda is a rare species known mostly to be inhabitants of China. Pandas or The Giant Panda belongs to the species of bear-cat. Panda is also famous as Ailuropoda Melanoleuca, which is their scientific name. Pandas are common found in the central western and south western regions of East Asia. Pandas can be recognized through their famous black and white fur. A healthy female Panda can weigh up to 154-220 lbs, while a male Panda can weigh between 187-275 lbs. The length of a panda's body is approximately 1.2 meters to 1.8 meters. Male pandas are 18% larger than females making them dimorphic animals.

Pandas are nocturnal and spend 10 hours a day sleeping while the remaining 14 hours they spend active. Physically, Pandas seem carnivores but their diet is largely herbivore. A Panda's most favored food is the bamboo. Due to its liking of the plant, Pandas are also famous as bamboo bears. Since the nutrition level in bamboos is insufficient, Pandas need to eat for hours to gain the level of nutrition their large bodies require to survive. Living in areas high above the sea level, Pandas survive in a cold climate areas. Panda is also very agile being able to climb trees. Due to this mobility, they have earned the reputation of bearing similarity to cats.

It is very rare for Pandas to hunt other mammals. They only hunt other species when bamboo tree reserves are decreasing in their habitat or region. These species include birds, rodents and at times insects too. Owing to their peaceful nature, Pandas are famous as a symbol of Peace around the globe.

Impact on Culture and Historical Factors

Culturally, Pandas are one of most of divine animal species in East Asia. Many observers believe that Pandas emerged on the plant about two to three million years ago. This became true when archeologists found fossils of the animal in Viet Nam, Burma and especially in Eastern China. Some experts believe Pandas' natural habitat was once spread as far as ...