Establish a special conservation zone for the captive giant panda

Abstract

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is recognized worldwide as an icon for wildlife conservation. Since the introduction in 1992 of reliable methods for artificial insemination, the population of captive pandas has grown to approximately 350 individuals in 2013. However, captive panda populations are harmed by environmental pollution, diseases transmitted from domestic animals, and other anthropologenic activities. Although the Chinese government has proposed the creation of a Giant Panda National Park, there are at least three reasons that suggest that it is premature to reintroduce captive pandas into this proposed national park. First, habitat fragmentation remains the greatest threat to survival of giant pandas; second, most captive pandas are hybrids of the Sichuan and Qinling subspecies and release of hybrids may lead to further introgression between the two subspecies; and third, captive pandas may be competitively inferior to wild pandas in the region, and may not survive fights for food or mates. As an alternative, we suggest establishing a special conservation zone in the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve for wild training of captive pandas prior to their reintroduction into the National Park.