Why are giant pandas going extinct?
“The giant panda is a national treasure in China and is therefore protected by law,” says the San Diego Zoo. However, according to the zoo, there are only about 1,600 of them left. The species is listed as ‘endangered.’Destruction of HabitatAccording to defenders.org, “The most serious threat to the panda is the loss of habitat.” Pandas consume up to 45 pounds of bamboo a day, meaning that each of them needs a significant amount of space. Much of this habitat has been destroyed by developers and farmers.Low Reproductive RatePandas are solitary animals with a short mating season. They also have a relatively long ‘childhood’; a young panda is dependent on its mother for about 2.5 years, according to the San Diego Zoo.Bamboo ShortagesBecause bamboo, pandas’ main food source, is low in nutrients, pandas need a lot of it. When the bamboo plants in an area die, a panda in that area must move to another area or starve. Human encroachment has reduced the number of areas.HuntingGiant pandas are
