Panda more 'resilient' and 'flexible' than previously believed

A new research has refuted the information which suggests that pandas were inflexible about habitat.

A Michigan State University (MSU) research associate has led a deep dive into aggregate data and emerged with evidence that the endangered animal is more resilient and flexible than previously believed.

Jianguo "Jack" Liu, Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability and CSIS director said that Panda habitat selection is a complex process that they are still trying to unravel and Pandas are a part of coupled human and natural systems where humans have changed so much in their habitat.

It has been thought pandas demanded a forest with fairly gentle slope (easier to mosey around in while seeking bamboo) at a certain elevation in original, old forest, an abundance of bamboo, and plenty of forest distance from people

Researcher Vanessa Hulls and her colleagues, who drew up analysis of all the research projects and sought to separate studies that focus on where pandas, which are difficult to observe and follow in the wild, live from studies that examine what kind of choices pandas make when multiple types of habitat are available, discovered that pandas may not be as picky as thought.

The research shows, for instance, that pandas are willing to live in secondary forests that have been logged and have regrown and they also don't seem as selective about slope, and are willing to climb depending on which of the many varieties of bamboo is growing, or what type of forest it was in.

They also found that there is a complex relationship between trees and bamboo and Pandas choose different forest types as places to spend their time, as long as bamboo is available.

Hull said that it gives hope as Pandas have survived throughout many challenges over so many millions of years, it would be sad to think humans came along and threw it all away and this also suggests that humans should stay on board and try to make things better for them.

The paper is published in Ursus, the journal of the International Association for Bear Research and Management.