Panda conservation could be putting other animals at risk

7 Aug 2020

Panda conservation could be putting other animals at risk

Panda conservation could be putting other animals at riskDecades ago, the giant panda was highly endangered (very few in number). However, since then, the hard work of the animal conservationists and the government has helped save it. It is now a highly protected species that lives in its own protected reserves.

Pandas are known in China as an umbrella species. This means experts believe that measures to protect pandas would help protect other species, as well as the larger ecosystem.

However, a study says that, while this has been good news for the giant panda and other small animals, it has not been good for large carnivores.

Researchers in China say that, carnivores like leopards, snow leopards, wolves and Asian wild dogs (dholes) have almost disappeared in many panda reserves.

Leopards have disappeared from 81% of reserves, snow leopards from 38%, wolves from 77% and Asian wild dogs from 95%. This is due to many factors like logging, habitat loss, illegal hunting, and disease.

The huge decrease in these animals' numbers will affect the ecosystem's balance, which could affect the pandas themselves.

This has happened because the focus was only on panda conservation and not on the other animals which have different needs.

So, experts have called for a more well-rounded approach to animal conservation that focuses not only on the panda. That way, these animals can also be saved.

Here is a video on snow leopards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTlveCrymV8

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