Fragmented and isolated
Across the panda's range, habitat is broken into 20 isolated patches in Shaanxi, Gansu and Sichuan provinces and many panda populations are isolated in narrow belts of bamboo no more than 1,000-1,200 meters wide.
Within these patches, a network of nature reserves provides protection for more than half of the panda population.
Because pandas cannot migrate between these far-flung habitat blocks, they have less flexibility to find new feeding areas during periodic bamboo die-off episodes. Bamboo die-back is a natural phenomenon that occurs every 15-120 years, depending on the type of bamboo.
Small, isolated populations also face a greater risk of inbreeding, which can lead to reduced resistance to disease, less adaptability to environmental changes and reproductive problems.
Pandas stand a much greater chance of extinction if they remain isolated from each other.
Shi Junyi studying dead bamboo. Bamboo die-off is a natural occurence in the bamboo life-cycle forcing pandas to look elsewhere for their main food source. If there are no corridors open to the panda in their search for a new food source, they will die of starvation.
© WWF / George B. SCHALLER
© WWF / George B. SCHALLER
Because pandas cannot migrate between these far-flung habitat blocks, they have less flexibility to find new feeding areas during periodic bamboo die-off episodes. Bamboo die-back is a natural phenomenon that occurs every 15-120 years, depending on the type of bamboo.
Small, isolated populations also face a greater risk of inbreeding, which can lead to reduced resistance to disease, less adaptability to environmental changes and reproductive problems.
Pandas stand a much greater chance of extinction if they remain isolated from each other.
Solutions: The creation of new reserves and green corridors are expanding and connecting existing habitats. Help us >>
