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Conserving biodiversity is a daunting and complex task. Perhaps no species presents a greater challenge than the giant panda – one of the most recognized and threatened animals on the planet. Its difficult-to-traverse, mountainous habitat in China makes quantifying population numbers in the wild exceedingly difficult. Despite a recent survey suggesting that the wild population may be growing, there is no disagreement that the primary threat is severely fragmented habitat. There now are more than 40 isolated populations, many too small or containing too few giant pandas to be demographically and genetically viable for much longer | Giant Pandas Biology veterinary Medicine and Management Edited by David L wild An u Zhang. Hemin Zhang. Donald L Janssen and Susie tills This page intentionally left blank Giant Pandas Biology Veterinary Medicine and Management The giant panda is one of the world s most recognized animals but most biology of this threatened species has been a mystery. For example the female giant panda is sexually receptive for only 2 to 3 days once per year and if pregnant can produce twins one of which inevitably dies. With China undergoing unprecedented changes at a rapid and accelerating rate can such a highly specialized species survive Giant pandas living in zoos are a favorite of the public but more importantly are an important source of new biological information that can be applied to understanding and protecting the species in nature. This book is the first of its kind to summarize the present state-of-knowledge about giant panda biology on the topics of reproduction behavior nutrition genetics and disease. It also offers the latest advances in neonatal care preventative medicine the use of assisted breeding and recent progress in population biology to genetically manage the worldwide insurance population of giant pandas living in zoos and breeding centers. The exciting result is a growing population of giant pandas in captivity that in turn is allowing animal loans to zoos that produce funding to conserve the species in nature including habitat protection. This book is an example of how zoos through science and awareness contribute to the scientific understanding and protection of one of the planet s most beloved animals the giant panda. DAVID E. WILDT is Senior Scientist and Head of the Department of Reproductive Sciences at the Smithsonian s National Zoological Park. ANJU ZHANG is the former Director of the Giant Panda Technical Committee in Chengdu China under the auspices of the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens. HEMIN ZHANG is Director of the Wolong Nature .
