1. Endangered Animals: The Giant Panda
By: Hillary Chan and Seher Sarin

2. THE GIANT PANDA a black and white bear
black fur on ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs, and shoulders
rest of the animal's coat is white
has a thick, wooly coat, keeps it warm in the cool forests of its habitat
listed as endangered in the World Conservation Union's (IUCN's) Red List of Threatened Species
about 1,600 left in the wild
approx. 300 pandas live in capitivity, mostly in China

3. HABITAT
live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a dense understory of bamboo
elevations between 5,000 and 10,000 ft
forests have torrential rains or dense mist throughout the year
heavy clouds, little sun

4. FOOD AND WATER
99% bamboo
the balance consists of other grasses and occasional small rodents or musk deer fawns
in zoos, giant pandas eat:
bamboo
sugar cane
rice gruel
a special high-fiber biscuit
carrots
apples
sweet potatoes

5. FEEDING ADAPTATIONS
Pandas eat while sitting upright, like how humans sit on the floor
This leaves the front paws free to grasp bamboo stems
have a pseudo thumb, a long wrist bone to help with holding food
uses its powerful jaws and strong teeth
digestive system is more similar to that of a carnivore than an herbivore
Needs about pounds of bamboo
sleeping and resting when not eating

6. FEEDING ADAPTATIONS
The Giant Panda’s pseudo thumb, used for eating bamboo.

7. SIZE AND LIFESPAN Size: About the size of an American black bear
stand between two and three feet tall at the shoulder (on all four legs), and reach four to six feet long
males are larger than females, weighing up to 250 pounds in the wild
females rarely reach 220 pounds
Life span:
Pandas live longer in zoos than wild
Chinese scientists have reported zoo pandas as old as 35

8. SIZE AND LIFESPAN For comparison:
Red panda vs. Giant Panda vs. Black Grizzly Bear

9. REPRODUCTION reach breeding maturity between 4-8 yrs of age
Females ovulate only once a year, in the spring
She can only conceive for 2-3 days during ovulation
Calls and scents draw males and females together
Female giant pandas give birth between 95 and 160 days after mating
Only one child survives although two are born
Cubs stay with their mothers for up to three years before going out on their own
Females can only produce young every other year; in her lifetime, she may successfully raise only 5 to 8 cubs

10. FUN FACTS
The Chinese once hunted the giant panda, believing that its pelt provided magical protection against evil spirits. 
They can climb as high as 4,000 meters to feed on higher slopes in the summer season.

11. WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED
Because of their slow reproductive abilities, it is hard for giant pandas to recover their population from such a low point
Their threats include:
Habitat destruction
Illegal hunting
Poaching

12. WHY GIANT PANDAS MATTER
Pandas play a crucial role in the bamboo forests where they roam by spreading seeds and facilitating growth of vegetation
Pandas bring huge economic benefits to low income, local communities especially in rural China through ecotourism

13. WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE THEM
Increase the area of panda habitat under legal protection
Continue raising awareness against poaching, illegal logging and encroachment

14. FUNDRAISING PLAN
create an organization that supports Giant Pandas and stops them from becoming extinct
the organization would host various events and fundraisers to raise awareness and money to support the Giant Pandas and give them a better future
Examples include:
Community bake sales
Outdoor summer lawn movie showings
Yard sales
Community BBQ day

15. GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS Our company’s future expansion project:
Host a concert annually with famous bands, singers and performers to invite the city of Toronto to engage and be educated about this cause
Charge a nominal entrance fee, market off different seating price points, sell merchandise and refreshments
Small entrance fee for events allows for a large audience to come because the main objective is to raise awareness
Corporations can sponsor these events to show their support

16. Thank you for watching 