Will the bamboo forests survive where pandas live?

Despite the fact that pandas are one of the most beloved animals, they are not immune to the devastating effects of climate change. Bamboo, almost the only source of food for a black-and-white bear that is endangered, grows rapidly, and multiplies extremely slowly. The fact that only once in thirty or thirty-five years on the bamboo shoots there are flowers and fruits, greatly affects its ability to adapt to changes in climatic conditions associated with global warming. Scientists warn: sections of bamboo forests in the mountains of Qinling, where pandas live, may disappear. The area of bamboo thickets, which are fed by cute bears, because of climate change can significantly decline in the near future. The author of the article published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, devoted to the changes in the climate of the planet, indicates the need to create food reserves for herbivores.

Large pandas (photo) - the only representatives of the Bear family, which feed mainly on plant foods. The daily ration of the bear "vegetarian" consists of approximately 20 kg of bamboo. Recently, environmentalists began to notice that in some places these animals began to switch to other sources of nutrition. So, in the province of Sichuan, there were frequent cases when pandas got into pigsties and took food from their inhabitants.

A group of scientists from the American University in East Lansing, Michigan, conducted observations in the mountains of Central China, where pandas live. Here live about a fifth of the entire population of the species. Ecologists studied the climate in the mountains of Qinling, other local factors, and also estimated the rate of reduction of reserved bamboo groves. The data obtained allowed the researchers to develop a special climate model and make a forecast about how the most common types of bamboo will grow. Conclusions of ecologists are not very comforting: all areas of bamboo forests in the mountains of Qinling, where pandas live at present, should disappear by the end of the 21st century. By that time, according to the calculations of ecologists, the habitat of a bamboo bear will be reduced by about 80, if not 100 percent. Only a few high-mountain areas will remain suitable for the growth of bamboo, where it will hardly penetrate because of the extremely slow breeding cycle. But if this happens, the big pandas will have a chance to survive.

The lack of food will lead to the forced migration of herbivorous bears to new habitats. However, the animals will be prevented by cuttings and construction between separate sections of bamboo groves. It is necessary to take into account also the peculiarities of reproduction of this species of bears. Small pandas are born on average once every 2-3 years. In addition, the female feeds only one cub. Scientists of the University of Michigan insist on the urgent application of measures to protect areas of bamboo groves where pandas live now. Environmentalists hope that the results of their research will be taken into account by the authorities of the People's Republic of China and other countries in the south-east Asia in developing preventive measures that help preserve the population of large pandas.