Giant Pandas

The giant panda is one of the world's most recognized animals. With the environment undergoing unprecedented change at a rapid and accelerating rate, can such a highly specialized species survive? This 2006 book summarizes panda biology and encompasses topics such as reproduction, behaviour, nutrition, genetics and veterinary medicine. It also provides information on veterinary management, advances in neonatal care, disease detection and prevention and the use of 'assisted breeding' to promote reproduction and preserve genetic diversity, as the females are sexually receptive for only 3 days per year and generally produce twins, but often lose one due to maternal neglect. This book provides the scholarly knowledge that will help conserve this treasured species in nature, while there is still time.

1. The giant panda as a social, biological and conservation phenomenon; 2. The giant panda biomedical survey: how it began and the value of people working together across cultures and disciplines; 3. Factors limiting reproductive success in the giant panda as revealed by a biomedical survey; 4. Significant medical issues and biological reference values for giant pandas from the biomedical survey; 5. Life histories and behavioural traits as predictors of breeding status; 6. Nutrition and dietary husbandry; 7. Male reproductive biology in giant pandas in breeding programmes in China; 8. Endocrinology of the giant panda and application of hormone technology to species management; 9. The value and significance of vaginal cytology; 10. Parentage assessment among captive giant pandas in China; 11. The science of behavioural management: creating biologically relevant living environments in captivity; 12. Evaluating stress and well-being in the giant panda: a system for monitoring; 13. The neonatal giant panda: hand-rearing and medical management; 14. Consequences of early rearing on socialization and social competence of the giant panda; 15. Medical management of captive adult and geriatric giant pandas; 16. Diseases and pathology of giant pandas; 17. Ultrasonography to assess and enhance health and reproduction in the giant panda; 18. Gastrointestinal endoscopy in the giant panda; 19. Historical perspective of breeding giant pandas ex situ in China and high priorities for the future; 20. Role and efficiency of artificial insemination and genome resource banking; 21. Analysis of demographic and genetic trends for developing a captive breeding masterplan for the giant panda; 22. Partnerships and capacity building for securing giant pandas ex situ and in situ: how zoos are contributing to conservation.