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Hey! Mr Panda....I'm a stanger in a strange land.... Do you have the answer to the greatest secret of mankind? |
Captain's Log, Stardate Puppy World 4,000,238. I'm in search of the greatest secret of mankind. I've travelled many long miles and it looks like I've got a lot more miles ahead of me! According to my last clue, it seems that the Great Pandas of China may have the answer. I sure hope so, 'cause I'm getting hungry! |
Did you know that the Panda Bear is probably the most famous and loved Endangered Animal? It has a special significance for WWF (World Wildlife Fund) as it has been the organization's symbol since it was formed in 1961. |
Panda Bears eat over fifteen different kinds of Bamboo. Because of an inefficient intestinal system they must feed for 12 to 16 hours a day, and can consume 22 to 40 pounds of Bamboo each day. When they eat fresh Bamboo shoots, Pandas eat about 84 pounds every day. Now that's alot of bamboo! |
It is estimated that there are somewhere around 700 to 1,000 giant pandas still alive in the wild. Because they rely on bamboo as their main food they will remain in danger unless their habitat is expanded. The differing varieties of bamboo go through periodic die-offs as part of their renewal cycle. Without the ability to move into new areas that have not been affected, many Pandas will starve to death. When die-offs occur the bears that do try to find a new place to feed often run into farmers and poachers. |
The Panda is such a majestic creature. It is sad to think that there may not be Pandas around for much longer. Even sadder is the fact that humans are the cause. Until people relize that Pandas are such great creatures and that they deserve a home, the Pandas will be in danger of extinction. |
In China they call the Panda "Xiongmao", which means Giant Cat Bear. The Panda was believed to have magical powers that could ward off natural disasters and evil spirits. Writings about the Pandas can be traced back 3,000 years. They were even kept as pets by Chinese Emperors, and considered rare and noble creatures. In fact, the mother of Emperor Wen of Han was buried with a panda skull in her tomb. |
The giant panda bear today exists in only six small areas located in inland China. The habitat, suitable for the bamboo on which it survives, is a cold, damp coniferous forest. The elevation ranges from 4,000 to 11,000 feet high. In most of the areas in which they still roam wild, they must compete with farmers who farm the river valleys and the lower slopes of the mountains. |
Just a minute...I'm trying to get down from this tree!.....You're searching for the what? |
I said...The greatest secret of makind! Do you need help getting down? |
No, I don't need help! |
Let me think....Ahhhhh, well I don't have the answer, you need to solve the Da Versity Code.....then you will have your answer! |
The Da Versity Code? What is that, and where do I find it? |
Boy, I'm hungry, hope one of the crew is cooking up something good! |
Guess we better see what the rest of the crew is up to, right? |
This article is excerpted from an article on WikipediaŽ. This article is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License and the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License |
CAPTAIN BOOTSIE'S GIANT PANDA MAGIC TIME PORTAL |
Now, you may ask, why is this species important? well..... Panda habitat is found at the top of the Yangtze Basin, an ecoregion shared by both pandas and millions of people whose ancestors have utilized the region's natural resources for millenia. The Basin is the geographic and economic heart of China, and is one of the critical regions for biodiversity conservation in the world. Its diverse habitats contain many rare, endemic and endangered animal and plant species, the best known being the giant panda. Economic benefits derived from the Yangtze Basin include tourism, subsistence fisheries and agriculture, transport, hydropower and water resources. The survival of the panda and the protection of its habitat will ensure that people living in the region continue to reap ecosystem benefits for many generations. |
Guess they need all the help they can get, Right? Oh.....Oh......I think I found a Giant Panda! Sure hope he has the answer I'm searching for! |
Well, that's a little hard to explain.....Tell you what, I'll take you there....afterall, we are a little magical so just touch my back and you'll be there! |
Well, you heard.....so click on our friend's back to find the Da Versity Code! |
In the meantime, there lots you can do to help the Giant Pandas |
Here's a great place for some WWF Panda Fun! |
Go On! Click on the Panda! |