Recently, giant pandas have been in the spotlight again with the successful transfer of 3-year-old panda Bao Bao (“treasure” in Chinese) from the Smithsonian National Zoo to Chengdu, China. Pandas have long occupied a special place in people’s hearts, drawing millions of viewers every year and headlines at every opportunity. But more than once, the question has arisen--are they worth it?
While it seems unfathomable to allow the charismatic, cuddly creature to die out, there are some compelling arguments against the continual stream of resources being diverted to ensuring the giant panda’s survival. It is unsurprising that for each dollar that goes into preserving flagship species, there is one less dollar being invested in the survival of less glamorous species that are equally, if not more important in their ecosystems (notably, the giant panda’s status was recently changed from “endangered” to “vulnerable” as a result of the increase in available habitat). The lack of funding then results in selection bias--conscious or otherwise--of researchers; there is undeniably a heavy preference for certain species over others (as a concrete example, amphibians often get the short end of the stick).
On the flip side, the giant panda is valuable for a number of reasons. Of course, it possesses an enormous cultural significance and provides economic benefits for local residents, but additionally, the emphasis on preserving its natural habitat has the positive side effect of helping other species dwelling in China’s bamboo forests such as the dwarf blue sheep and multi-colored pheasants. Species like the giant panda spark an interest in conservation that may otherwise not exist. Ultimately, it is highly unlikely that the status quo regarding pandas will change, but it is important for conservationists and scientists to cultivate a more nuanced understanding of conservation in the public that goes beyond simply saving the species that are fortunate enough to have an aesthetic, emotional appeal for human audiences.
Sources :
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/politics/bao-bao-national-zoo-panda-china/
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/why-we-done28099t-need-pandas/
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/giant_panda/panda/why_we_save_the_giant_panda/
Image: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/169F6/production/_91026629_gettyimages-519508400.jpg
While it seems unfathomable to allow the charismatic, cuddly creature to die out, there are some compelling arguments against the continual stream of resources being diverted to ensuring the giant panda’s survival. It is unsurprising that for each dollar that goes into preserving flagship species, there is one less dollar being invested in the survival of less glamorous species that are equally, if not more important in their ecosystems (notably, the giant panda’s status was recently changed from “endangered” to “vulnerable” as a result of the increase in available habitat). The lack of funding then results in selection bias--conscious or otherwise--of researchers; there is undeniably a heavy preference for certain species over others (as a concrete example, amphibians often get the short end of the stick).
On the flip side, the giant panda is valuable for a number of reasons. Of course, it possesses an enormous cultural significance and provides economic benefits for local residents, but additionally, the emphasis on preserving its natural habitat has the positive side effect of helping other species dwelling in China’s bamboo forests such as the dwarf blue sheep and multi-colored pheasants. Species like the giant panda spark an interest in conservation that may otherwise not exist. Ultimately, it is highly unlikely that the status quo regarding pandas will change, but it is important for conservationists and scientists to cultivate a more nuanced understanding of conservation in the public that goes beyond simply saving the species that are fortunate enough to have an aesthetic, emotional appeal for human audiences.
Sources :
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/politics/bao-bao-national-zoo-panda-china/
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/why-we-done28099t-need-pandas/
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/giant_panda/panda/why_we_save_the_giant_panda/
Image: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/169F6/production/_91026629_gettyimages-519508400.jpg