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Many times, big pandas became the heroes of all kinds of films and cartoons. They are popular with children and adults, and even become the national emblem of China. Meanwhile, these funny animals are listed in the Red Book, and every year people accept attempts to save this species from extinction.
History of the study of the species
Panda has a pretty long history of learning. For the first time, a man showed interest in them 3 thousand years ago. Then they populated the entire territory in the South and East of China, being a fairly ordinary animal for those places. The main problem in studying the big panda was the question: what to name, and what kind of animal is it? They tried to make her a bear, a fox, and even a tiger. For a while she was officially recognized as a giant raccoon. Such a number of contradictions and disputes is explained by the appearance of the panda and the presence of its relative - a small panda (which was unconditionally considered a raccoon). Combining the characteristics of various animals, the large panda confused scientists for several centuries, until in the 20th century it was assigned to a separate species from the bear family.
External description
Their limbs are thick and short, with a dense dark sole. On the hind legs there are sharp claws. Bare fingertips help big pandas cling to and hold bamboo branches. The front legs differ from the hind legs by the presence of an additional finger (to five available). Strictly speaking, this is not a full finger, but the carpal process, which has increased mobility. Her panda is controlled with thin bamboo shoots, which she does not always manage to keep with her paws.
Large pandas have a large rounded head with a blunt muzzle and large ears. Ears, by the way, always have a standing position. The eyes are very small and difficult to see among the thick black hair.
Nutrition and lifestyle
Years of evolution have affected these animals, and now their teeth and jaw are different from bear's. This is due to the fact that pandas have to chew a large amount of bamboo, which reaches 30 kg per day. Animals eat not only stems and leaves, but also a bamboo trunk. However, this does not cause them any harm, since the stomach of a large panda is lined with a layer of mucus from the inside, which prevents the penetration of bamboo chips into its walls. During food intake, pandas assume the pose of a person sitting on the floor. This helps them keep their forelimbs free to keep them food.
In nature, large pandas dilute their diet with chicks, bird eggs, carrion and small rodents, as well as insects. They are omnivores, and similar food gives them much needed protein. Despite this, eating only food of animal origin in a large panda will not work. There are cases when, after the destruction of bamboo forests, there was a mass death of these animals due to hunger.
Besides food, bamboo gives pandas shelter. In dense thickets, they rest, give birth to cubs, and recover from illnesses. Alpine bamboo forests attract pandas in the summer, giving a cool shadow to animals languishing from the heat.300 species of bamboo grow in China, but only 10 of them are edible for large pandas. Therefore, animals always know about reserve thickets that can be moved in case of drought or the death of bamboo.
Big pandas are calm. They do not show aggression in relation to other animals and their relatives. They have greetings, warnings, complaints. All this is accompanied by a variety of sounds, including: bleating, roaring, buzzing, whimpering (in babies). Pandas screech to show that they are in pain, or that they are ready to obey. To threaten the enemy, the panda makes champing sounds, quickly opening and closing its mouth.
Big pandas do not have their own homes. They can temporarily occupy empty burrows, caves and crevices in the rocks to hide from the weather. They do not hibernate, but they noticeably decrease their activity in the cold season. During this period, they prefer to spend time among the foothills, not rising to a great height. Pandas climb, by the way, swim even better. Despite such abilities, the animal rarely deals with such, preferring to lie on a strong branch after a hearty dinner.
In the wild, pandas reach maturity at the age of 4.5 years, and begin to breed two to three years after this period. The mating season lasts 2-3 months, occupying the spring season. Pregnancy lasts from 3 to 6 months. Such an amplitude of terms is explained by the fact that during the development of the fetus all kinds of delays can occur, therefore, there are frequent cases when the gestation period is extended twice. But this feature allows you to give birth to offspring at a more favorable time of the year.
Big pandas are not particularly fertile, and in captivity things are even worse. Until the early 2000s, there was not a single documented case where a female panda gave offspring outside the wild.
The weight of the newborn is small and is only 100 g. with a body length of 15 cm. In the very first days, their skin is already covered with a sufficiently thin layer of wool, which the mother tirelessly licks, thus taking care of her child. Moreover, if another cub is with her at this moment, even the smallest attention ceases to be paid to him. Therefore, large pandas can not feed two cubs at the same time and produce offspring every 2 years.
Such depressing, at first glance, the reproduction rate of the population leads to the fact that the number of species is constantly at risk. On the other hand, among the big pandas there is no competition for habitats and food, which allows them to maintain a lifespan of 20 years. In addition, knowing about the loss of female interest in the first cub, zoo employees replace her cubs, periodically leaving one or the other with her mother. This saves the lives of both animals.
Although large pandas have a peaceful character and a cute appearance, they retain the signs of a predator and can pose the same threat to humans as any bear of a similar complexion. They are equipped with strong muscles, sharp teeth and claws, as well as physical strength.
Life in captivity and conservation
Due to the secretive lifestyle of the big panda, its fur is difficult to get, which increases the price of it. This attracts many poachers who are not stopped by imposing fines and prison sentences. In addition to the fact that the skin of a large panda is appreciated for its appearance, it is often credited with useful magical properties, for example, the ability to bring good dreams. Because of this, popularity remains on panda fur mats.
Until recently, large pandas were threatened with extinction, but now their status has changed to “vulnerable”, due to a slight recovery in the population.
Despite the popularity of large pandas, they are kept only by a few zoos in the world outside of China.This is due not only to difficult conditions of detention, but also to China's tough policy in this area. It is forbidden to take a large panda out of the country or buy it from anyone. The zoo can only rent an animal for a period of 10 years, for which 1 million US dollars will be paid. At the same time, the Chinese government reserves the right to own all the cubs born in captivity.
The low number of individuals in nature is associated primarily with human activity. Of course, the low playback speed of the population also plays a role, but not so significant. As mentioned earlier, the disappearance of bamboo forests leads to starvation of animals. Due to the rapid pace of industrialization in China, the number of bamboo forests cut down for household needs is growing rapidly. Therefore, it is necessary to create zones that are protected from human exposure.
Symbolism of the Big Pandas
From ancient times, the big panda had a special relationship on the part of people. These animals were revered in China as a symbol of peace and friendship. Now the Chinese proudly call the big panda their national treasure. She deserved this title not only because of her beautiful appearance, but also because she possesses qualities that Chinese society values so much - peace of mind, endurance and high intelligence.
Ancient animal philosophers and sages drew attention to the animal symbolism. Initially, there were attempts to tame pandas as animals that help in the conduct of wars. However, it soon became clear that, despite their impressive size, these animals do not show aggression at all and are not suitable for these purposes. Then they began to breed at the imperial court for fun, and pundits noticed that the coloring of the big panda has a connection with Yin and Yang, embodying the harmony of the flow of these energies. This influenced the fact that the big panda finally got its rightful place in the history of China.
An interesting appearance made them the heroes of traditional Chinese and Japanese painting. Artists devoted a whole series of drawings to this animal, trying to convey its beauty and habits. Often they were portrayed against a background of bamboo groves or grass thickets. In some scenes, the panda is depicted together with a person, while there is a fairly peaceful relationship between them.
In China, the panda has another name - "the hermit of a bamboo grove." This is a multifaceted nickname, since the word “hermit” here means not only an ascetic who has moved away from the world, but also a philosopher, sage, creative person, or great figure.
The image of the panda is also in demand outside of China. So, the big panda is a symbol of the world organization for the protection of animals.
Interesting Facts
- There is a family of pandas, and the panda is not part of it.
- To feed pandas in zoos, special cookies made from pressed bamboo are used.
- In captivity, the panda's life span can reach 30 years.
- One panda can occupy an area of 6 square meters. km
- The big pandas themselves always defend their habitat in front of other relatives and do not concede it to anyone, while the male will try to avoid conflict and move to new territory.
Video: big panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
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