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Differences Between Red Pandas and Giant Pandas in the Wild Essay

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The article compared the behavior of red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) and giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the wild with regards to foraging, daily and seasonal activity, and land use pattern. The purpose of the study was to improve understanding of the nature of the evolutionary relationship between the two species. A combined method of behavior observation and radio telemetry was used to gather the data. The giant pandas (3 males and 2 females) were radio-collared and studied between 1981 and 1983 and the female red panda in 1984 in a 35km2 area in the Wolong Reserve in China. The activity patterns of the red panda were recorded by taking readings from a motion-sensor fitted in the radio-collar once every month from February to …show more content…

The researchers attributed these feeding patterns to the physiology and nutritional requirements of these animals. Because of their small body size, red pandas could eat small amounts of the most nutritious part of the plant and still meet their nutritional requirements. Giant pandas could not implement the same strategy due to their larger body size. As a result, they ate leaves and stems in bulk to satisfy their nutritional requirements.

Compared to giant pandas, red panda rested more often during the day, even though there was no significant difference in the lengths of the resting periods. The red panda was most active in the morning and evening while giant pandas had no obvious periods of peak activity. Whereas the red panda had regular activity throughout all months of the year, the giant panda showed some seasonal change in activity patterns. It was also discovered that both species had an overlapping range even though each species concentrated its activity around a particular core area.
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Red pandas and giant pandas have historically shared their range and the two species are said to be sympatric. This means that they have evolved alongside each other in the same geographical area sharing the same resources, but not showing any signs of competitive exclusion. There has been a debate for many years about the evolutionary relationship between these herbivorous carnivores. Although they share several biological and behavioral

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