8
1/18/13 Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skills | LiveScience 1/8 www.livescience.com/26412-panda-cubs-boot-camp-wolong.html Follow Us: Like 274k Follow Follow @livescience @livescience Search Home Space Animals Health Environment Technology Culture History Strange News Quizzes Video Images Topics Shop World's Cutest Baby Wild Animals Image Gallery: One-of-a-Kind Places on Earth Butter Balls: Photos of Playful Pandas Article : Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skills

Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skillscsis.msu.edu/sites/csis.msu.edu/files/LiveScience... · The cub went through a boot camp of sorts, and now scientists are monitoring the

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    0

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 2: Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skillscsis.msu.edu/sites/csis.msu.edu/files/LiveScience... · The cub went through a boot camp of sorts, and now scientists are monitoring the

1/18/13 Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skills | LiveScience

2/8www.livescience.com/26412-panda-cubs-boot-camp-wolong.html

DigsbyIM, Email, and Social Networks in one easy to useapplication!http://digsby.com

In Wolong in the mountains of China, baby pandasare off limits to all but the people who monitor andcare for the animals. The pandas are raised inexpansive enclosures, filled with trees, bamboo andsteep slopes that mimic prime panda real estate.CREDIT: Photo by Sue Nichols. View full size image

by Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience ManagingEditorDate: 18 January 2013 Time: 01:45 PM ET

Recommend 1

TweetTweet 6

0

Panda cubs have the cuteness thing down pat, but rough-and-tumble? Not so much. Now scientists are hoping toteach the roly-poly bears survival skills they'll need forliving in the wild.

The new mission is partly the result of a panda cub beingreleased into the wild without the proper training. XiangXiang, a male cub, was released into Wolong NatureReserve, located high in the mountains of westernChina's Sichuan Province, in April 2006. Unfortunately,Xiang Xiang wasn't prepared for the harsh reality of thewild. After less than a year of wandering the mountains,the cub was killed by neighboring males during turfwars.

Enter Tao Tao, a 2-year-old male panda currentlyroaming in Lipingzi Nature Reserve in southwesternChina. The cub went through a boot camp of sorts, andnow scientists are monitoring the furball with GPS.

Hemin Zhang, director of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, and hiscolleagues realized after Xiang Xiang's death that panda upbringing is critical.

And the best time to teach a panda new tricks seems to be during the cub years, so Zhang's team, including Jianguo"Jack" Liu of Michigan State University, taught momma pandas how to relay crucial survival skills — foraging andavoiding predators — to their cubs. [Baby Panda Pics: See a Cub Growing Up]

ShareShare

Page 3: Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skillscsis.msu.edu/sites/csis.msu.edu/files/LiveScience... · The cub went through a boot camp of sorts, and now scientists are monitoring the

1/18/13 Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skills | LiveScience

3/8www.livescience.com/26412-panda-cubs-boot-camp-wolong.html

"Our people cannot teach a panda to live in the wild," Zhang said in a statement. "Now we leave the teaching to themomma." The momma panda and the humans who monitor the animals are the only individuals with access to thecubs. Even the human keepers must go undercover, wearing panda suits when interacting with the cubs.

The scarcity of human exposure keeps the pandas fearful of humans, a caution that will help the cubs survive in thewild, Zhang said.

In addition, cubs are kept on their tiptoes by reminders of predators, which come in the form of recordings ofvocalizations and scat spread around the enclosure from clouded leopards and other hungry threats. The reserve isalso home to some non-threatening species, such as pheasants, sheep and pigs.

So far, the scientists say, Tao Tao is doing fine, though they warn that the real test will come in the spring, or matingseason. During this season of love, Zhang said, competition between males can turn lethal.

Follow LiveScience on Twitter @livescience. We're also on Facebook & Google+.

World's Cutest Baby Wild AnimalsImage Gallery: One-of-a-Kind Places on EarthButter Balls: Photos of Playful Pandas

Recommend 1

TweetTweet 6

0

MORE FROM LiveScience.com

ShareShare

Page 4: Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skillscsis.msu.edu/sites/csis.msu.edu/files/LiveScience... · The cub went through a boot camp of sorts, and now scientists are monitoring the

1/18/13 Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skills | LiveScience

4/8www.livescience.com/26412-panda-cubs-boot-camp-wolong.html

Image Albums

Countdowns

Topics

Infographics

Brain Training Games www.lumosity.com

Improve memory with scientifically designed brain exercises.

South Padre Island solarecondos.com

Meet the new condos of South Padre Island with the best amenities

Bird Watching China www.birdwatchingchina.com

Best Bird Watching Tour in China Archaeological Tour , Hiking TourAds by Google

Facebook social plugin

CommentPosting as Sue Glenn Nichols (Change)

Add a comment...

Post to Facebook

Page 5: Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skillscsis.msu.edu/sites/csis.msu.edu/files/LiveScience... · The cub went through a boot camp of sorts, and now scientists are monitoring the

1/18/13 Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skills | LiveScience

5/8www.livescience.com/26412-panda-cubs-boot-camp-wolong.html

MOST POPULAR ARTICLESGirl Who Doesn't Grow Baffles Doctors

57,231 views

Why Sandy Hook Massacre SpawnedConspiracy Theories

39,895 views

New Theory on Why Men Love Breasts

37,219 views

Oldest Roman Hairstyle Recreated for FirstTime

36,438 views

Scientologists' Alleged 'Alien SpaceCathedral' Found

17,535 views

Find us on Facebook

LiveScience

Like

274,329 people like LiveScience.

Facebook social plugin

What Happens When You DieNew scientific theory says death isn't the endRobertLanza.com

TuneUp: iTunes CleanerAutomatically Find & Fix Songs with Bad Info &Missing Album Art.www.TuneUpMedia.com

Victoria Falls, ZimbabweVolunteer Opportunity, Big 5 Lion, Leopard,Elephant, Rhino...volunteersa.com/victoriafalls

Ads by Google

Page 6: Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skillscsis.msu.edu/sites/csis.msu.edu/files/LiveScience... · The cub went through a boot camp of sorts, and now scientists are monitoring the

1/18/13 Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skills | LiveScience

6/8www.livescience.com/26412-panda-cubs-boot-camp-wolong.html

FACEBOOK ACTIVITY Adroaldo Jose Zanella recommended CrabsReally Do Feel Pain: Study. · 12 hours ago

Adroaldo Jose Zanella recommended WhyHumanNeanderthal Sex Is Tricky to Prove. ·about a month ago

DNA Technique Reveals Looks of LongDead Humans153 people recommended this.

Why Sandy Hook Massacre SpawnedConspiracy Theories1,765 people recommended this.

New Dad Builds World's Fastest BabyStroller321 people recommended this.

Facebook social plugin

Page 7: Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skillscsis.msu.edu/sites/csis.msu.edu/files/LiveScience... · The cub went through a boot camp of sorts, and now scientists are monitoring the

1/18/13 Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skills | LiveScience

7/8www.livescience.com/26412-panda-cubs-boot-camp-wolong.html

TWITTER ACTIVITY LiveScienceLiveScience

Join the conversation

LiveScience Ancient Louisiana EarthworksNominated for World Heritage Site dlvr.it/2prS8l25 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite

LiveScience Bizarre Te'o Hoax & The TruthAbout Online Love dlvr.it/2prB1v57 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite

LiveScience After-Meal Exercise May ReduceHeart Disease Risk dlvr.it/2pqvd0about 1 hour ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Company PagesCompany InfoAbout the SiteContact UsAdvertise with UsUsing our ContentLicensing & ReprintsPrivacy PolicySitemapTechMediaNetwork BrandsTechMediaNetworkiPadNewsDailyTopTenREVIEWSBusinessNewsDailyLAPTOPMyHealthNewsDailySPACE.comSecurityNewsDailyLiveScienceInnovationNewsDailyTechNewsDailyIT TechNewsDailyNewsaramaHerman StreetLife's Little MysteriesNorth OrionOurAmazingPlanet

Join our communityEnter your email address

FOLLOW US ON...

Page 8: Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skillscsis.msu.edu/sites/csis.msu.edu/files/LiveScience... · The cub went through a boot camp of sorts, and now scientists are monitoring the

1/18/13 Panda Boot Camp Teaches Cubs Survival Skills | LiveScience

8/8www.livescience.com/26412-panda-cubs-boot-camp-wolong.html

Copyright © 2013TechMediaNetwork.comAll rights reserved.