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4 - Significant medical issues and biological reference values for giant pandas from the Biomedical Survey
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- By Donald L. Janssen, San Diego Zoo, Zoological Society of San Diego, Mark S. Edwards, San Diego Zoo, Zoological Society of San Diego, Meg Sutherland-Smith, San Diego Zoo, Zoological Society of San Diego, Jianqiu Yu, Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding, Desheng Li, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Guiquan Zhang, China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda, Rongping Wei, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Cheng Lin Zhang, Beijing Zoo, R. Eric Miller, Saint Louis Zoo, WildCare Institute, Lyndsay G. Phillips, School of Veterinary Medicine, Daming Hu, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Chunxiang Tang, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
- 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 59-86
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- Chapter
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Summary
INTRODUCTION
The Giant Panda Biomedical Survey sought to establish a baseline of scientific information on giant pandas living in Chinese zoos and breeding centres as a first step towards establishing a self-sustaining captive population (Zheng et al., 1997; see also Chapter 2). To produce the most information that would allow an understanding of the health and reproductive status of the extant population, we chose an interdisciplinary approach to examine as many health and reproductive traits as possible. What was crucial was the trusting relationship that developed early in the process between the Chinese and American teams which led to a thorough understanding of giant panda biology – information that not only was fascinating from a scholarly perspective but also valuable to improving ex situ management.
This chapter provides detailed methods and medical findings following the assessment of more than 60% of the living Chinese population of giant pandas (as existed in 1996 when the need for a Biomedical Survey was recognised). The results in this chapter address issues ranging from disease conditions to reproductive compromise, all of which ultimately allowed classifying each animal as to its usefulness in achieving the goal of population self-sustainability. The practices and reference values described here will also be useful to those who are interested in closely studying and managing giant pandas in the future.