SAVE THE RED PANDA
The Effect on Mankind
A Catalyst for Human Survival
By protecting the red panda and preserving it's home we are saving a species that is an ambassador for a landscape that supports over 500 million people - the equivalent to 10% of the world's human population. Additionally, by protecting the red pandas natural environment from things such as deforestation, we are allowing the forests that range from northern Myanmar to the west Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces of China, to perform their functions properly. Trees can help to combat global warming and ensure a healthy life for the people, threatened wildlife, and plants of South Asia, whom all depend on the forests for their survival. And as a bonus we all get to enjoy the benefits of trees, including cleaner air and cleaner oceans it's a win-win!
Slide 1: ("Free Image on Pixabay - Yunnan, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain", 2014)
Recovering from Endangerment
Habitat Destruction, Climate Change, Human Interference
What is HIPPCO?
HIPPCO is an acronym for the greatest threats to marine biodiversity. Habitat Loss and degradation, Invasive Species, Population Growth, Pollution, Climate Change, Exploitation.
H: Habitat destruction is the greatest factor in the extinction of the Red Panda. The Panda’s build their nests up in the trees, and due to deforestation and logging, much of their habitat in the wilderness of China, Nepal, and Myanmar have been destroyed, leaving the panda’s with no home.
P: Population growth has been limited due to the lack of forests. We estimate that there are only about 2,500 Red Panda’s left in the wild. Luckily there are protected areas for the Red Panda to live. There are 20 protected areas in India, 35 in China, 8 in Nepal, and 5 in Bhutan (National Geographic Society, 2012).
C: Climate change has heavily affected the Red Panda species. With lack of forests the pandas have nowhere to nest, and with the increased temperature they are forced to higher altitudes that they are not adapted to yet.
I: The most common invasive species to the Red Panda are humans and dogs. Locals often send their shepherd dogs to kill Red Pandas, in fear that they will scare their livestock. Humans also build highways through their forest homes and with quick modern expansion in Nepal and China, thousands of pandas have died.
P: Pollution, such as smog from factories, affect the health of the forests that they are living in. Heavily polluted trees make unhealthy environments for the pandas.
O: Overexploitation due to ranching and cattle farming has negatively affected the Red Panda’s population in recent years. They have been over hunted by many local farmers due to their interference with the crops.
