Extinction Risks Remain High for Wild Pandas
Populations of giant pandas in the wild are more fragmented and isolated than they were 30 years ago and many continue to face a high risk of extinction despite recent gains in the species’ overall numbers, a new study by Chinese and American scientists finds.
Climate change, habitat loss and reduced breeding viability an inherent risk in small, remote populations where potential mates are few could pose a triple whammy for these animals, the research suggests.
Scientists need to find ways to restore connectivity between these populations or introduce new breeding animals into them, the study’s authors say.