Autocad

ANIMALS IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION
(GIANT PANDA)

The giant panda or panda (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca , literally meaning“ black and white cat-foot “ ) is a bear native to central-western andSouth-western China . Its easily recognized by its large , distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99%bamboo.[5] Pandas in the wild will occasionally eat other grasses, wild tubers, or even meat in the form of birds, rodents or carrion. In captivity they may receive honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges, or bananas along with specially prepared feed.[6][7]

The giant panda lives in a few mountain ranges in central China, mainly in Sichuan province, but also in the Shaanxi and Gansuprovinces.[8] Due to farming, deforestation and other development, the panda has been driven out of the lowland areas where it once lived.
The panda is a conservation reliant endangered species.[4] A 2007 report shows 239 pandas living in captivity inside China and another 27 outside the country.[9] Wild population estimates vary; one estimate shows that there are about 1,590 individuals living in thewild,[9] while a 2006 study via DNA analysis estimated that this figure could be as high as 2,000 to 3,000.[10] Some reports also show that the number of pandas in the wild is on the rise.[11][12] However, the IUCN does not believe there is enough certainty yet to reclassify the species from Endangered to Vulnerable.[1]

While the dragon has historically served as China's national emblem, inrecent decades the panda has also served as an emblem for the country. Its image appears on a large number of modern Chinese commemorative silver, gold, and platinum coins. Though the panda is often assumed to be docile, it has been known to attack humans, presumably out of irritation rather than predation.
The giant panda has a black-and-white coat. Adults measure around 1.2 to 1.8 meters (4 to 6ft) long, including a tail of about 13 cm (5.1 in), and 60 to 90 centimeters (1 ft 10 in to 2 ft 10 in) tall at the shoulder.[17] Males can weigh up to 160 kilograms (350 lb).[18] Females (generally 10–20% smaller than males)[19] can weigh as little as 75 kg (170 lb) but can also weigh up to 125 kilograms (280 lb).[4][20] Average adult weight is 100 to 115 kilograms (220 to 250 lb).[21]

Thegiant panda has a body shape typical of bears. It has black fur on its ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs, arms and shoulders. The rest of the animal's coat is white. Although scientists do not know why these unusual bears are black and white, some speculate that the bold coloring provides effective camouflage in its shade-dappled snowy and rocky surroundings.[22] The giant panda's thick, wooly coatkeeps it warm in the cool forests of its habitat.[22] The giant panda has large molar teeth and strong jaw muscles for crushing tough bamboo.[23]

The giant panda's paw has a "thumb" and five fingers; the "thumb" is actually a modified sesamoid bone, which helps the giant panda to hold bamboo while eating.[24] Stephen Jay Gould discusses this feature in his book of essays on evolution and biology,The Panda's Thumb.

The giant panda's tail, measuring 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 in), is the second longest in the bear family. The longest belongs to the Sloth Bear.[19]

Despite its taxonomic classification as a carnivoran, the giant panda's diet is primarily herbivorous, consisting almost exclusively of bamboo.[25] However, the giant panda still has the digestive system of a carnivore, aswell as carnivore-specific genes,[33] and thus derives little energy and little protein from consumption of bamboo. Its ability to digest cellulose is ascribed to the microbes in its gut.[34][35] The giant panda is a "highly specialized" animal with "unique adaptations", and has lived in bamboo forests for millions of years.[28] The average giant panda eats as much as 9 to 14 kg (20 to 30...