Article: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/09/120924-giant-panda-cub-national-zoo-death-animals-science/
Author: Katie Andries
Published: September 24th 2012
This article is about the death of a Panda cub in the United States National Zoo in Washington D.C. It is still unknown why the Panda died however during the necropsy performed on the cub it was reveled that there was strange fluid found in the cubs abdomen and liver irregularities were found. It is not known whether or not either of those contributed to the death of the panda but the lab tests over the next week should give a definite answer. Suffocation was ruled out after the lungs and heart of the panda were examined and seemed normal. Zoo Director Dennis Kelly said that currently the zoo's staff has no evidence that they should have done something differently to ensure the cubs safety. The mother of the baby Panda has returned to mostly normal behavior but still cradles a small toy in its den, which trainers think is the Panda still readjusting from her role as a mother. The reason that Panda cubs are so hard to raise are because of how small the cubs are compared to their mothers who weigh around 200 pounds. For example in China a Panda accidentally crushed it's cub as it was nursing. However over the last 25 years the breeding of Pandas in captivity has gotten to be much better. For example in the San Diego and Atlanta Zoos eight panda cubs have been raised effectively over the last 13 years. Also in China a reserve for transferring Pandas back into the wild has shown success. I think the article gives a good overview of one of the most difficult challanges that faces the human cause to save endangered species, which is to save Pandas. Because of the Panda's eating habits and the incredibly short ovulation period of female Pandas it has proven to be a very difficult task to save the Pandas. However with the reserve in China and the successes in San Diego and Atlanta the species may well be on it's way to a resurgence despite the death of this Panda cub in Washington D.C.
Author: Katie Andries
Published: September 24th 2012
This article is about the death of a Panda cub in the United States National Zoo in Washington D.C. It is still unknown why the Panda died however during the necropsy performed on the cub it was reveled that there was strange fluid found in the cubs abdomen and liver irregularities were found. It is not known whether or not either of those contributed to the death of the panda but the lab tests over the next week should give a definite answer. Suffocation was ruled out after the lungs and heart of the panda were examined and seemed normal. Zoo Director Dennis Kelly said that currently the zoo's staff has no evidence that they should have done something differently to ensure the cubs safety. The mother of the baby Panda has returned to mostly normal behavior but still cradles a small toy in its den, which trainers think is the Panda still readjusting from her role as a mother. The reason that Panda cubs are so hard to raise are because of how small the cubs are compared to their mothers who weigh around 200 pounds. For example in China a Panda accidentally crushed it's cub as it was nursing. However over the last 25 years the breeding of Pandas in captivity has gotten to be much better. For example in the San Diego and Atlanta Zoos eight panda cubs have been raised effectively over the last 13 years. Also in China a reserve for transferring Pandas back into the wild has shown success. I think the article gives a good overview of one of the most difficult challanges that faces the human cause to save endangered species, which is to save Pandas. Because of the Panda's eating habits and the incredibly short ovulation period of female Pandas it has proven to be a very difficult task to save the Pandas. However with the reserve in China and the successes in San Diego and Atlanta the species may well be on it's way to a resurgence despite the death of this Panda cub in Washington D.C.
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