Pandas are what are known as Specialist species. They are very particular about where they live and what they eat. Now the problem is that we are destroying both its habitat and its diet. All the development and industrialization has consumed large areas of land that used to be panda habitat. This not only destroyed one habitat but also fragmented the habitat. Pandas on one side are therefore cut off from the pandas on the other side. This does two things. If food (bamboo) finishes in one area, a panda cannot migrate to the other side for more. Also, fragmentation also makes it impossible for potential mates to meet.
Coming to diet. Here logging is the culprit. Although this problem has been controlled to a great extent, it was one that led to a great decrease in the numbers of pandas as bamboo forests were cut down. Pandas need large amounts of bamboo to survive. If the resource is depleted by them in one place, they move to another, but we have either destroyed it or fragmented the habitat and made it impossible for them to access it. :(
Also, female pandas have a very small fertile period. She can only have cubs if she mates during this time. Once they give birth, the females do not breed again for a couple of years. So, the population growth is not too much anyway and made worse now by habitat loss and fragmentation. Also, cub mortality is high, only made higher by environmental stress put on the species by humans.
Coming to diet. Here logging is the culprit. Although this problem has been controlled to a great extent, it was one that led to a great decrease in the numbers of pandas as bamboo forests were cut down. Pandas need large amounts of bamboo to survive. If the resource is depleted by them in one place, they move to another, but we have either destroyed it or fragmented the habitat and made it impossible for them to access it. :(
Also, female pandas have a very small fertile period. She can only have cubs if she mates during this time. Once they give birth, the females do not breed again for a couple of years. So, the population growth is not too much anyway and made worse now by habitat loss and fragmentation. Also, cub mortality is high, only made higher by environmental stress put on the species by humans.
