The giant panda became a symbol of conservation when Sir Peter Scott designed the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) original logo after the panda. Today WWF is recognized around the world as a conservation leader, and its characteristic logo is very much associated with the organization.

Sir Peter Scott was wise to select the panda for WWF’s logo. Not only are pandas the quintessential flagship species, but pandas are also fascinating creatures—both in appearance and in habit.

A panda’s black and white markings, although appealing to the human eye, are odd when compared to other mammals. Furthermore, these solitary bamboo specialists are endemic to a few areas in China.

The panda is an endangered species, but according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species the giant panda’s population is increasing: “At least until recently there has been a general population decline, although there is hope that this has been reversed by general habitat improvements — nevertheless, this remains an uncertainty.”

At birth, giant pandas aren’t so giant (see images), and they are notoriously difficult to reproduce in captivity. Two types of giant panda are recognized: the nominate subspecies or the Sichuan panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca melanoleuca) and the Qinling panda, (Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis), which has a more restricted range.

The so-called red panda (Ailurus fulgens), another characteristic endangered bamboo specialist, isn’t a bear like the panda, but red pandas are related to raccoons, skunks, and weasels.  From the People’s Daily Online:

Fang Shengguo told reporters that giant pandas distribute in six mountain ranges including Qinling, Minshan, Qionglai, Liangshan, Daxiangling and Xiaoxiangling in Shaanxi, Gansu and Sichuan provinces. The distribution of Qinling giant pandas have isolated from that of Sichuan giant pandas since 12 thousand years ago. Thus, it accords with the first condition.

After long time isolation and the suspension of exchange of genes, the genes of the two groups of pandas have split up and become completely different population after 12 thousand years evolution.

Judging from their genes, Qinling giant pandas are closer to their ancestors while Sichuan pandas experienced faster evolution. Thus Qinling panda accords with the second kind of classification to become a new sub species.

The two kinds of pandas are so different in their figures. Sichuan panda’s head is long and looks like a bear while the Qinling panda’s head is round and looks like a cat, and the skull bone is small but the teeth are big. In their hair color, Qinling panda’s chest is light brown, its chest hair is brown while Sichuan panda’s chest is black and its chest hair is white. Qinling panda has obvious differences from pandas in other mountains. The difference is identical to that of genes. This accords with the third condition. Due to the differences, Qinling pandas look more beautiful and lovely, Shaanxi people call them “the beauty among the national treasures”

To protect the purity of Qinling sub species of panda, experts suggest integrating the existing protection zones.

A survey shows that currently there are 273 Qinling giant pandas. “Qinling pandas population are seriously endangered.” said Yong Yange, director of the Giant Panda Research Center and senior engineer in Foping National Natural Protection Zone in Shaanxi province.

Yong Yange has studied giant pandas for 30 years. He said Wolong area in Sichuan province has solved the three difficulties in mating, pregnancy and nurturing the baby panda in artificial reproduction of pandas. It has successfully reproduced more than 100 pandas through artificial breeding. But Qinling pandas’ artificial breeding is not as good as that in Wolong, thus it is a severe challenge to protect Qinling pandas.

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Photo source for attribution here, here, here (although this Flickr user credits this panda cub image to “China Photos/Getty Images”), and here. The authors or licensors of these images do not endorse my work or me and their images are protected under an attribution license.

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