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19 - Historical perspective of breeding giant pandas ex situ in China and high priorities for the future
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- By Zhihe Zhang, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Anju Zhang, Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Foundation, Rong Hou, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Jishan Wang, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Guanghan Li, Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Foundation, Lisong Fei, Chengdu Zoo, Qiang Wang, Chengdu Zoo, Kati I. Loeffler, National Zoological Park, David E. Wildt, National Zoological Park, Terry L. Maple, Center for Conservation & Behaviour, Rita Mcmanamon, Zoo Atlanta, Susie Ellis, Conservation International
- 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 455-468
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
INTRODUCTION
The giant panda is one of the national treasures of China. Many factors, related primarily to increased human activity, have caused a marked decline and geographic fragmentation of the wild population. To preserve this endangered species, the Chinese government, in partnership with many nongovernmental organisations (inside and outside China), has invested significant human and material resources to benefit in situ conservation. These collective efforts have resulted in the establishment of more than 40 nature reserves in southwest China in the provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi.
Giant pandas have been sporadically maintained in captivity since the Han Dynasty (206 BC to AD 226) (see Chapter 1). However, it was not until the 1940s that there was serious interest in exhibiting the species in China. It took more than 20 years of giant panda husbandry experience to produce the first cub in captivity, at the Beijing Zoo in 1963. Much progress has been made in the subsequent years in understanding basic giant panda biology and making it possible for the species to reproduce consistently in captivity. This chapter reviews the brief history and significance of ex situ breeding efforts for the giant panda.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EX SITU BREEDING PROGRAMMES FOR THE GIANT PANDA
The giant panda is particularly vulnerable to external pressures, in part because of an inherently slow rate of reproduction.