Life Q

We all know that pandas are endangered species and they have been at the forefront of many conservation efforts of different groups around the world. While the issue of awareness has been addressed quite extensively, the problem still exists. Why?

First of all is the threat from encroaching progress and forest fragmentation. Pandas are continuously being made to move because their homes are being turned into roads or villages or farms. China, which is home to the giant panda has turned part of their natural habitat into a national highway network. Their economic boom means improving access to provinces and raw materials. This means new infrastructure that cuts into the very homes of the giant pandas.Thus from on large habitat, these Chinese giant pandas have to choose between 5 different areas – the forest fragmentation and they cannot safely cross to another habitat without great risk and danger. The estimated 1000 wild giant pandas are now facing dire extinction and the biodiversity in the areas are also under threat of losing many of their species. One reason for this is the problem of mating which is gone from free and wild to restricted and severely limited. As a result of having to inbreed, the conservationists are predicting that 50% of the population will die. These pandas can no longer depend on each other since they have been segregated by highways. Just divide 1000 by 5 areas and you only have 200 pandas in each. This isn’t good enough to increase population because it will weaken the reproductive abilities. They are already not genetically able to produce babies easily which means the problem is critical.One of the Chinese experts on giant pandas, Wang Hao is appealing to the government to consider building forest corridors wherein the pandas can reunite safely. There should also be safeguards that will allow pandas to cross the roads to move from habitat to habitat. For now, many of these wild pandas are being caught to live in captivity but it isn’t a long term solution.