The giant panda, probably the most recognizable of any species of wild animal, is seriously threatened in its native habitat in China. Pandas exist in zoos and in reserves in China but only a small number have ever been seen in Europe or North America. Studying such an elusive and rare creature in its mountainous habitat is a difficult task, but the opportunity to increase knowledge of the biology of the animal can be gained by studying animals in breeding centers and zoos. There is a paucity of well-documented reports in English of medical data and the diseases that affect giant pandas.
From 1998 to 2000, teams of biologists, veterinarians, reproductive specialists and geneticists, under the umbrella of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group of the IUCN-World Conservation Union, undertook an intensive study of more than 60 captive pandas in collaboration with animal managers and scientific colleagues from conservation and research centers in China. This book represents the result of those examinations combined with data collected from other studies of both captive and free-living animals.
This is an exceptional publication presenting a wealth of current knowledge on giant panda biology, including health, behavior, reproductive physiology, genetics, and species management. Although taxonomically a bear, the giant panda demonstrates many features not typical of other bears, in particular those related to its unusual diet.
The 22 chapters cover topics such as genetics, social behavior, nutrition, clinical findings, clinicopathological data, diseases and pathology, and the results of ultrasonographic, gastroscopic, and colonoscopic examinations. Several sections are devoted to reproduction, including normal reproductive physiology and endocrinology, as well as assisted reproductive techniques. For many years successful reproduction of captive pandas was a rare event — females are sexually receptive for just 3 days a year, and this, coupled with issues of incompatibility between prospective pairs, meant few giant panda births. However, knowledge of panda reproduction has increased greatly in the past decade resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of panda cubs now being born and surviving. Artificial insemination has resulted in live births, while artificial rearing and switching cubs has enabled panda keepers to raise rejected neonates, as well as twins when typically only one of a pair would survive. Much of this progress has been made by the Chinese themselves, but the techniques and their precision have been refined with the assistance of veterinarians and scientists from outside the country.
The book, which is written and edited very well, includes the results of the survey in detail, along with data tables, photographs and up-to-date reference lists. As more giant pandas become available for study, further knowledge on their biology and medicine will be gained, including perhaps the cause of their various digestive diseases, and a stunting syndrome that was recognized in 15% of the pandas examined.
While this book may be of limited interest to most Canadian veterinarians, it is essential reading for those seeking information on the medical care, reproduction, and other aspects of the biology of this appealing animal. It also demonstrates the tremendous rewards to be gained from multidisciplinary and multinational projects despite considerable political, logistical, and linguistic challenges, as well as the importance of documenting procedures in new species.