Monday, May 4, 2009

Chinese Presentation













FINAL PRESENTATION



"Giant Panda"



I chose to do my presentation on my favorite animal the Giant Panda. This peaceful bamboo eating animal is universally loved . I was also interested in how it is the symbolization of the organization WWF which is the World Wildlife Fund also now known as World Wide Fund for nature. Serving also as an emblem for China.




















"WWF's Mission Statement
To stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:
conserving the world's biological diversity
ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption"

































The Giant Panda is native to central-western and southwestern China. 99% of the time they eat bamboo. Although they can eat other foods such as, honey, eggs, fish, oranges, shrub leaves, and bananas. The Giant Panda lives in moutain ranges in central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. Due to forest clearing and farming and other factors it restricts panda's from living in the mountains. The Giant Panda is " a conservation reliant endangered species" Right now according to the most recent report there is a little over 200 Giant Pandas in China and another 20 somthing living outside the country. The estimate for how many are living in the wild is over 1,500. Based on DNA analysis study shows that there could actually be over 2000. The Giant Panda also serves as China's national emblem along with the dragon. Which means it symbolically represents the nation.




















"The giant panda was once widespread throughout southern and eastern China, as well as neighbouring Myanmar (Burma) and northern Vietnam.Due to expanding human populations and development, the species is now restricted to only 20 or so isolated patches of mountain forest in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. The panda's habitat surrounds the great Sichuan Plain. To the north are the Qinling Mountains and to the west are the Minshan, Qionglai, Liangshan, Daxiangling, and Xiaoxiangling Mountains. WWF's panda conservation work to date has focussed on the Minshan and Qinling Mountains. Increasing protected areasThe provincial governments of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu, working closely with WWF, have been creating new nature reserves and extending existing reserves. "




Size of this animal
Pandas are covered in white fur coat with black fur around their eyes, ears, muzzle, shoulders, and legs.


They have wide flat molar teeth. Also large wrists which help them carry, crush, and eat bamboo. They are 150 cm long with a 10-15 cm tail.








A newborn panda cub weighs only 90-130gr. and is about the size of a stick of butter.




An adult panda can weigh about 100-150kg, the males 10% larger and 20% heavier than females.


"Over 50 reserves created By mid-2005, the Chinese government had established over 50 panda reserves, protecting more than 10,400km² and over 45% of remaining giant panda habitat.However, habitat destruction continues to pose a threat to the many pandas living outside these areas. Currently, only around 61% of the population, or about 980 pandas, are under protection in reserves. As China's economy continues its rapid development, it is more important than ever to ensure the giant panda's survival."



What are the main threats to giant pandas?


major factors disturbing panda habitat
-conversion of forests to agricultural areas,
-medicinal herb collection,
-bamboo harvesting,
-habitat fragmentation,
-poaching,



We should help save pandas because they have survived for centuries, even surviving the ice age, so it would be terrible if they became extinct now during our lifetime. Future generations deserve to see and know pandas and they deserve a rightful place in the natural world.


Pandas are one of nature’s creatures and all of nature’s creatures are precious and should be protected.