The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
just announced that the giant panda is no longer endangered. They are still
listed as vulnerable, but they have had a significant increase in population.
Most recently there were 1,864 pandas, excluding cubs, which is a 17% increase
over the last decade.
The Chinese have had a very successful conservation program
which includes unique ways of supporting panda breeding. I actually visited the
Chengdu Panda Base four years ago which is the center of the panda preservation
space. It was an amazing facility.
The success of the program proves that when local communities
come together with the government and utilize science that we can save
wildlife. However, the panda’s face another challenge. It is predicted that
climate change will impact their main food source which is bamboo. It is likely
that almost 1/3 of the world’s bamboo might disappear due to the warming
climate.
It is awesome that the panda preservation program has been so
successful. Could we combine the forces of local communities, government and
science to address climate change? That would help not only the pandas, but
other challenges causes by climate change. We need to do something now.
Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/giant-panda-endangered_us_57ccba71e4b0a22de0967642?
Yay! This is very exciting. I am glad that they are helping change what we have messed up in the past. 107 animals become extinct everyday, I'm glad we are making a difference with the pandas.
ReplyDeletethis is awesome and just imagine of all the other species we could help. Although, i wish we could help with the future bamboo shortage.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved pandas so this is very exciting news that the population is growing. I hope something can be done about the bamboo shortage so the population doesn't decrease again.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this was a happy topic of discussion and I think that people are doing good to society by helping. Also I hope the bamboo finds away to stay alive with the help of scientists.
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