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3 - Factors limiting reproductive success in the giant panda as revealed by a Biomedical Survey
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- By Susie Ellis, Conservation International, Donald Lo Janssen, San Diego Zoo, Zoological Society of San Diego, Mark S. Edwards, San Diego Zoo, Zoological Society of San Diego, Jogayle Howard, National Zoological Park, Guangxin He, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Jianqiu Yu, Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding, Guiquan Zhang, China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda, Rongping Wei, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, R. Eric Miller, Saint Louis Zoo, WildCare Institute, David E. Wildt, National Zoological Park
- Edited by David E. Wildt, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington DC, Anju Zhang, Hemin Zhang, Wildlife Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas, Donald L. Janssen, Zoological Society of San Diego, Susie Ellis
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- Book:
- Giant Pandas
- Published online:
- 09 August 2009
- Print publication:
- 27 July 2006, pp 37-58
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- Chapter
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Summary
INTRODUCTION
There is surprisingly little published information about giant panda biology, especially in the life sciences. This poor quantity (and quality) of data has been due primarily to too few individual animals available for study and a traditional hands-off policy towards hands-on research in such a rare and high-profile species. However, recent changes (see Chapter 2) have created important, new opportunities for giant panda investigations. People responsible for ensuring that the species survives now realise that giant pandas living in zoos and breeding centres are a valuable research resource (see Chapter 1). It also has been recognised that this population must be intensively managed if it is truly to support giant pandas that are surviving precariously in nature. The intended result will be an ever-increasing amount of new, scholarly information and sufficient panda numbers to continue educating the public, helping to raise conservation funding, serving as a hedge against extinction, and even as a source of animals for potential reintroductions. However, these laudable goals can only be achieved by first understanding and then rigorously managing the captive population so that it becomes demographically and genetically stable. This, in fact, has become the mantra of Chinese managers of the ex situ population: ‘to develop a self-sustaining, captive population of giant pandas that will assist supporting a long-term, viable population in the wild’ (see Chapter 2).