What Are the Reasons Behind Pandas Being Endangered?

Humans have dedicated significant conservation efforts over many years to boost the giant panda population. Despite these efforts, the question remains: why are pandas endangered? What factors led to their decline, and what measures are being taken to ensure their survival for future generations?

Wild Panda Populations in China Are Rising

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), a bamboo-eating species native to southern central China, was reclassified from "endangered" to "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2016, following nearly three decades on the endangered species list.

Currently, the global population of giant pandas is estimated at 1,864, with some wild pandas found outside their expected geographic range.

While this is excellent news, recent studies highlight ongoing risks to wild giant pandas due to habitat loss caused by infrastructure expansion and livestock grazing.

Panda Life and Biology

To grasp why wild pandas have faced prolonged threats, it’s essential to examine their specific dietary and habitat requirements.

Pandas rely exclusively on bamboo for sustenance, meaning they can only survive in bamboo-rich forests or mixed forests with abundant bamboo. Unfortunately, these habitats have been increasingly endangered by human activities over the past two centuries.

Historically, giant pandas roamed across much of southern China, reaching as far as Vietnam and Myanmar. However, significant habitat loss occurred due to climate shifts after the ice age and extensive deforestation by humans.

Today, pandas live in China's Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces.

Giant pandas, being large creatures, face few natural predators but can occasionally fall prey to animals such as bears, snow leopards, and feral dogs. While humans once hunted pandas for their fur, their protected status now makes harming or trading panda pelts a punishable offense under Chinese law.

Due to the low nutritional value of bamboo, pandas must consume vast quantities daily. This diet results in slow digestion and a generally sedentary lifestyle.

Pandas' Mating Habits

A contributing factor to the declining giant panda population is their low reproductive rate. Female pandas are fertile for only a few days each year, often resulting in years passing between pregnancies.

While female pandas may give birth to one or two cubs, they typically only have the energy to care for one. In the wild, the second cub is frequently abandoned.

Panda Habitat Loss and Restoration

Efforts by both private organizations and government agencies are ongoing to protect pandas, focusing on maintaining and restoring wild panda populations across China. A study published in the September 25, 2017, issue of Nature Ecology and Evolution examines the factors behind this population growth and its potential sustainability.

"My colleagues and I aimed to understand how panda habitats have evolved over the past 40 years, as habitat extent and connectivity are critical in determining extinction risk," explained coauthor Stuart Pimm, a conservation ecology professor at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, in a press release.

Using satellite imagery, researchers analyzed land use changes across the panda's entire habitat. They discovered a 23 percent decline in bamboo forests from 1976 to 2001, followed by a slight increase between 2001 and 2013.

This positive shift is largely attributed to the prohibition of commercial logging in panda habitats, the creation of numerous panda reserves, and educational initiatives for local communities.

However, not all changes in these panda-friendly regions have been beneficial. Since 2001, extensive infrastructure development, including roads and hydropower stations, has fragmented habitats. "Road density nearly tripled from 1976 to 2013, significantly disrupting the habitat," noted Pimm.

While there’s no definitive fix for protecting these iconic animals, researchers propose creating panda corridors to connect fragmented habitats. This would enable wild pandas to interact and prevent population isolation.

Bamboo Forests Dwindling

A collaborative study by Chinese and U.S. researchers examined how livestock affects bamboo forests.

The second study, published on October 3, 2017, in Biological Conservation, revealed a 900 percent rise in livestock numbers over 15 years in Wanglang National Nature Preserve, damaging one-third of the park’s panda habitat.

"These issues aren’t limited to our study area; they’re widespread across panda reserves and habitats. It’s not just an ecological challenge but also a complex balance involving communities, reserves, local governments, and other stakeholders," said Li Sheng, a Peking University conservation biology professor involved in the second study.

"Long-term observations reveal that pandas are being displaced from areas heavily grazed by livestock, particularly the park’s valleys," said Pimm, who contributed to both studies. "These lower elevations are vital for pandas, especially during winter and spring."

Panda Captive Breeding Efforts

Beyond establishing panda reserves, the Chinese government has invested in captive breeding programs. All pandas in zoos worldwide are technically on loan from China, and any cubs born in captivity must be sent back to China to support conservation initiatives.

Breeding pandas is challenging due to their infrequent mating cycles, occurring every two to three years. Some experts have resorted to artificial insemination to maintain the captive panda population.