Habitat Loss - Red Pandas
Jocelyn Reavis
Habitat Loss of Red Pandas
Causes of habitat loss
Forests are cleared due to logging operations or to convert the forested area into farmland where crops can be grown and cattle can graze.
Causes of habitat loss
Major effects of habitat loss
Major effects of habitat loss
- Red Pandas diet contains mainly of bamboo, but only the youngest, most tender shoots and leaves. They have a high dependence for bamboo and so when their habitat is destroyed, they have less bamboo to eat, which can cause them to die of starvation.
- they are in a small area in the Himalayas, and as climate change warms up that area, the pandas will have to move higher in elevation, which will just make them lose more habitat
- The Red Panda has specific habitat requirements for forest type, altitude, slope gradient and aspect, proximity to water courses, precipitation and presence of tree stumps. When their habitat gets destroyed, they don’t have the resources they need.
Fragmentation
Fragmentation is when a habitat gets split, for example, when a road is built through the middle of a forest. Red Pandas usually roam alone except during breeding season. The home of one Red Panda is around one sq mile.
Fragmentation
Causes of Fragmentation
Fragmentation is caused because more and more forests are being destroyed due to logging and spread of agriculture.
Causes of Fragmentation
Impact of fragmentation on Red Pandas
Impact of fragmentation on Red Pandas
- When humans come and bring in their cattle and livestock, the animals could spread diseases to Red Pandas, causing them to die off.
- People that live too close to red pandas' forest habitat can accidentally kill red pandas when they get caught in traps that were set for other animals.
- Because of deforestation, the forest and the Red Panda population become fragmented. Groups of red pandas which could usually meet and mate with each other are separated, which means that these separated groups can only mate with other red pandas nearby, leading to less genetic diversity, which can cause groups of red pandas to become unhealthy and die due to inbreeding.
Adaptations
Adaptations
- When more of the Red Pandas’ habitat is destroyed, their climate gets warmer, they have to move to higher altitudes because they are unable to adapt to the warmer weather changes.
- When Red Pandas move to higher altitudes, there is less bamboo for them to eat, which is most of their diet. They may also eat small mammals, birds, eggs, flowers, and berries.
- There are only about 10,000 Red Pandas left in the world
Locations
Red Pandas are located around mountains of Nepal, Northern Myanmar (Burma), and Central China
Location
Create a Plan
Create a Plan
We can raise money as awareness to save the Red Panda habitat and the money can go towards protecting Red Panda forests. Preserve the Red Panda habitat by replanting their trees and bamboo and restrict people from cutting down the trees near them or bringing their cattle near them.
Citations
Citations
Citations -
•https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/red-panda
•https://redpandarocks.wordpress.com/why-endangered/
•https://www.redpandanetwork.org/red-pandas-and-climate-change/
•https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/red-panda
•https://sciencing.com/red-pandas-endangered-6775531.html
•http://institute.sandiegozoo.org/science-blog/red-panda-amdovirus-viral-diseases-and-conservation-age-metagenomics