Talk:Giant panda

New edit

A section says:-

The ROC government's official said, the import of pandas was under the terms of "species of traditional herbal medicine"

This statement is dubious. Is it saying that the ROC government is treating the pandas as traditional medicine and importing them under these terms? Or is it saying the government is just simply using similar importing terms as traditional medicine? If that's latter is the case, why is that? I removed this statement because more information needs to be given as it currently doesn't make sense. The reference in the footnote is broken so there is no way for me to verify it.--pyl (talk) 19:27, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

I deleted the sentence. I believe the editor who wrote it must have been trying to say something about how the Taiwan government was justifying the acceptance of the pandas when the previous administration had refused them as being illegal due to prohibitions against endangered species being given as international gifts.

I think it makes sense to clarify the circumstances. For example, why specifically Chen had objected, how the decision to accept was made by a newly elected administration, how that new administration justified the action, and how China viewed the transfer.

Specifically regarding Taiwan's justification, I found out something I hadn't known before: eTaiwannews.com had this to day on 2008-12-24 07:39 PM (it's cached in google right now, but who knows for how long)

Taiwan insists panda trip was not domestic affair for China

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The trip by two pandas to Taiwan was not a domestic transaction for China, the Mainland Affairs Council said Wednesday.

Earlier in the week, Tuesday’s delivery of the endangered animals from Chengdu in China to the Taipei Zoo was described as an example of internal or domestic trade by the secretariat of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES. The organization said such a domestic transaction meant that the parties involved were not required to file a report.

However, MAC chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan said Wednesday the panda trip was obviously not domestic, since a customs declaration was filed, and the animals had to undergo a checkup before being taken off their flight at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.

The Taipei Times covered it but not as clearly: "PANDA DIPLOMACY: Use of ‘domestic’ by CITES secretariat was wrong: MAC". Readin (talk) 03:00, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

I am happy with your edit. I think you have clarified the situation quiet well.--pyl (talk) 04:28, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Panda habitat: conservation

I think they need to talk more about the problems with panda conservation:

Problems include fragmentation of the pandas’ habitat, habitat destruction, and poaching. China has set laws to protect these places but they are still being logged and destroyed. Minshan Mountains, for example, has about ½ the remaining of the panda population within its forests, but also has 180,000 people (Kramer).

Kramer, James. "Pandas and Habitat Destruction ." WWF :World Wildlife Fund. 7 Mar. 2009 . 11 Mar.

2009 <http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/endangered_species_list/giant_panda/

where_panda_lives_habitat/#Where>.

15:22, 13 May 2009 (UTC)

—Preceding unsigned comment added by Ajmaster77 (talk • contribs)

Cat?

I noticed that the article says that the Panda "is a cat native to central-western and southwestern China.[2]" Should someone double check this? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jed.tsai (talk • contribs) 22:15, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

It doesn't say that anywhere in the article. I checked the entire article for every time the letters "cat" occur in that order and there's nothing about a panda being a cat. OlYeller^Talktome 03:26, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

I believe someone corrected it.... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.26.235.103 (talk) 19:09, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

Size of newborn cub

I have added a different description/ref for the size of the newborn cub. The comparison to a "stick of butter" may not be obvious to everyone. In the UK, for example, butter generally comes in 250g (8oz) blocks rather than 4oz sticks. TheSmuel (talk) 23:05, 29 May 2009 (UTC)

Diet

The article says:

the Giant Panda has a diet which is 99% bamboo

It's extremely unlikely to be exactly 99%.. anyone has more precise statistics? 93.33.245.35 (talk) 20:28, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

I can't imagine any number being accurate accross a large population. There's got to be a fair bit of variation. Perhaps in place of "99%" it would be appropriate to say, simply, "mostly."

the Giant Panda has a diet which is mostly bamboo

or

the Giant Panda has a diet which consists mostly of bamboo Bppubjr (talk) 18:09, 5 July 2009 (UTC)

Why do Pandas eat more bamboo than everything else put together? Bears are meant to be carnivorous, so it doesn't make any sense. Wiki editor 6 (talk) 18:59, 24 September 2009 (UTC)

Wrong you sad pathetic individuals. Bears are omnivorous. All bear species can eat meat or plants. All bear species have stomachs designed for eating meat or plants. However, years of living in a meat-based food only environment (Arctic/Polar Bears) or plant-based food only environment (forest/Panda) has made them ditch some enzymes to accustom to their new diets. This doesn't mean that pandas CAN'T get nourishment from meat, just that it probably gives them the runs so they avoid it. Also they suck at hunting. 99.236.220.155 (talk) 19:27, 24 September 2009 (UTC)

Liquid hydrogen?

Really, liquid hydrogen? Liquid nitrogen is much more common for cryopreservation, cheaper, not such an explosion risk - did they really use liquid hydrogen? Aaadddaaammm (talk) 08:24, 27 July 2009 (UTC)

1 ref says H2 the other says N2 so I'm changing it to N2 coz I believe H2 is an error. Aaadddaaammm (talk) 08:28, 27 July 2009 (UTC)

Cat-like slit pupils

Rita Putatunda may have authored a Buzzle article making the claim that pandas possess vertical slits pupils, but the close-up photograph of the seven month old panda clearly shows a round pupil -- could we look for further information to substantiate her claim? DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 13:26, 28 July 2009 (UTC)

PS - I fear that most internet sources will be tainted with information gleaned from this article, and thus should be invalid sources of substantiation. DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 13:30, 28 July 2009 (UTC)

Cats' pupils can also be round when fully dilated, so this claim about giant panda eyes are not necessarily false. its hard to tell with only a photograph. But yes, it would be better if a reliable source is found. --Tesscass (talk) 21:47, 18 September 2009 (UTC)

Fucking other pandas?

Seems like the phrase 'fucking other pandas' in the behaviour section is out of place for an encyclopedia. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.235.208.197 (talk • contribs)

Yes, it was anonymous vandalism, I've just reverted it. Thanks.--Microcell2009 (talk) 08:35, 31 August 2009 (UTC)

Preventing extinction

This month, there has been a significant amount of media coverage of the suggestion that it is a waste of time, money and effort to prevent them becoming extinct, which is what would happen if not for human intervention. What are the arguments for keeping them in captivity and encouraging them to breed? Do zoos that have Pandas gain far more visitors as a result? Can valuable products be made from Pandas? Is there a productive reason for going to great efforts to increase their numbers (which is a slow and difficult process), or is it all just because many people think they look cute? Wiki editor 6 (talk) 18:59, 24 September 2009 (UTC)