chingchong

=Panda Bears =

In the dense jungles of Inland China lurks a gentle giant. He is know as the panda bear. Panda bears weigh close to 300 pounds and bigger males can come close to 330 pounds. They're diet is 99% bamboo. They eat up to 30 pounds of bamboo a day. Pandas are easily recognized by they're distinct black spots around they're eyes. Pandas are big and seem cuddly but can be viscous when defending they're young, although on sight alone they appear to be as gentle as flies. media type="youtube" key="FzRH3iTQPrk?fs=1" height="385" width="480" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4dMnAPZu70&feature=related

As gentle as they appear we soon might not be seeing them at all. In 1984 the giant panda was added to the endangered species list by The U.S fish and wildlife service. The population has been on decrease ever since. Now there are fewer than 1,600 left in the wild. More than half of them are in protected areas. In 2004 there were 1,600 pandas in the wild running free alone. The last five years the panda population has decreased to a little less than half that it was.

The problem behind the decrease in panda population is the fact that the Asians are taking all of the pandas habitat to build new things. With the decrease in habitat the pandas have no where to live, The only safe place where destroying of panda territory is illegal is in safe zones. Transporting pandas to zones like that is no easy thing to do either. It is definitely necessary though. A world without pandas is like a world without love.

 Pandas live in bamboo forests on the mountains of western and southwestern China. The size of their homes are quite small. The male panda's stays very close to where they are born. normally within 3.8 to 6.8 kilometers. The females stay even closer than that. Pandas naturally live in the grassy lands of China, staying in rocky places and in hollowed out trees. In the winter, the panda finds shelter in bamboo thickets; they also eat the bamboo. In the summer the pandas move into the higher colder mountains. Their thick fur keeps them warm in the cold mountains.

 Panda is a large mammal which is about the same size as a black bear.Adult Pandas grow to be about 5-6 feet high. They will weigh up to 276 pounds and males weighing 10% to 20% more than females. Giant panda have a massive head, heavy body, short tail, rounded ears and plantigrade feet.The Panda lives in six small areas located in China. In China they call the Panda "Xiongmao", which means Giant Cat Bear. The Panda was believed to have magical powers that could ward off natural disasters and evil spirits.

 The WWF is a very active group for animal protection and conservation. In the late 1900's the Chinese government was actively working on making conservation centers were for pandas. By 2005 the organization had over 50 reserves. Those 50 reserves are home to some 60% of the entire panda bear population. The reserves covered a total of 2.5 million acres. Without these efforts there could be no pandas left. Even with all the effort currently active more needs to be done. Save Pandas!

http://www.indianchild.com/panda.htm