GIANT PANDAS: BIOLOGY, VETERINARY MEDICINE AND MANAGEMENT; ED. BY DAVID WILDT

The giant panda is one of the world's most recognized animals. With the environment undergoing unprecedented change at a rapid and accelerating rate, can such a highly specialized species survive? This 2006 book summarizes panda biology and encompasses topics such as reproduction, behaviour, nutrition, genetics and veterinary medicine. It also provides information on veterinary management, advances in neonatal care, disease detection and prevention and the use of 'assisted breeding' to promote reproduction and preserve genetic diversity, as the females are sexually receptive for only 3 days per year and generally produce twins, but often lose one due to maternal neglect. This book provides the scholarly knowledge that will help conserve this treasured species in nature, while there is still time. The Giant Panda As A Social, Biological, And Conservation Phenomenon / Susie Ellis [and Others] -- The Giant Panda Biomedical Survey : How It Began And The Value Of People Working Together Across Cultures And Disciplines / David E. Wildt [and Others] -- Factors Limiting Reproductive Success In The Giant Panda As Revealed By A Biomedical Survey / Susie Ellis [and Others] -- Significant Medical Issues And Biological Reference Values For Giant Pandas From The Biomedical Survey / Donald L. Janssen [and Others] -- Life Histories And Behavioural Traits As Predictors Of Breeding Status / Susie Ellis [and Others] -- Nutrition And Dietary Husbandry / Mark S. Edwards [and Others] -- Male Reproductive Biology In Giant Pandas In Breeding Programmes In China / Jogayle Howard [and Others] -- Endocrinology Of The Giant Panda And Application Of Hormone Technology To Species Management / Karen J. Steinman [and Others] --^ The Value And Significance Of Vaginal Cytology / Barbara S. Durrant [and Others] -- Parentage Assessment Among Captive Giant Pandas In China / Victor A. David [and Others] -- The Science Of Behavioural Management : Creating Biologically Relevant Living Environments In Captivity / Donald R. Swaisgood [and Others] -- Evaluating Stress And Well-being In The Giant Panda : A System For Monitoring / Ronald R. Swaisgood [and Others] -- The Neonatal Giant Panda : Hand-rearing And Medical Management / Mark S. Edwards [and Others] -- Consequences Of Early Rearing On Socialisation And Social Competence Of The Giant Panda / Rebecca J. Snyder [and Others] -- Medical Management Of Captive Adult And Geriatric Giant Pandas / Donald L. Janssen [and Others] -- Diseases And Pathology Of Giant Pandas / I. Kati Loeffler [and Others] -- Ultrasonography To Assess And Enhance Health And Reproduction In The Giant Panda / Thomas B. Hildebrandt [and Others] --^ Gastrointestinal Endoscopy In The Giant Panda / Autumn P. Davidson [and Others] -- Historical Perspective Of Breeding Giant Pandas Ex Situ In China And High Priorities For The Future / Zhihe Zhang [and Others] -- Role And Efficiency Of Artificial Insemination And Genome Resource Banking / Jogayle Howard [and Others] -- Analysis Of Demographic And Genetic Trends For Developing A Captive Breeding Masterplan For The Giant Panda / Jonathan D. Ballou [and Others] -- Partnerships And Capacity Building For Securing Giant Pandas Ex Situ And In Situ : How Zoos Are Contributing To Conservation / David E. Wildt [and Others]. Edited By David E. Wildt ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The giant panda is one of the world's most recognised animals, but most of the biology of this threatened species has been a mystery. For example, the female giant panda is sexually receptive for only 2 to 3 days once per year and, if pregnant, can produce twins, one of which inevitably dies. With China undergoing unprecedented changes at a rapid and accelerating rate, can such a highly specialised species survive? Giant pandas living in zoos are a favourite with the public, but more importantly are an important source of new biological information that can be applied to understanding and protecting the species in nature. This book is the first of its kind to summarise the state-of-knowledge about giant panda biology on the topics of reproduction, behaviour, nutrition, genetics and disease. It also provides the latest advances in neonatal care, preventative medicine, the use of assisted breeding and recent progress in population biology to genetically manage the worldwide 'insurance' population of giant pandas living in zoos and breeding centres. It also explains how loans of animals to zoos are generating funding to conserve the species in nature. This book is an example of how zoos, through research and awareness, contribute to the scientific understanding and improved protection of one of the planet's most beloved animals, the giant panda and its habitat. The giant panda is one of the world's most recognized animals, but until now the biology of this threatened species has been a mystery. With the environment undergoing unprecedented change at a rapid and accelerating rate, can such a highly specialized species survive? This book summarizes the present state of knowledge about panda biology, encompassing topics such as reproduction, behavior, nutrition, genetics and veterinary medicine. It also provides the latest information on veterinary management, advances in neonatal care, disease detection and prevention and the use of 'assisted breeding' to promote reproduction and preserve genetic diversity. The giant panda is one of the world's most recognized animals, but until now the biology of this threatened species has been a mystery. This is the first book to summarize the present state of knowledge about panda biology, encompassing topics such as reproduction, behaviour, nutrition, genetics and veterinary medicine This work summarises the present state of knowledge about panda biology, encompassing topics such as reproduction, behaviour, nutrition and genetics. It also provides the latest information on veterinary management, advances in neonatal care, disease detection and the use of assisted breeding The giant panda is one of the world's most recognized animals, but until now the biology of this threatened species has been a mystery. This 2006 book summarizes panda biology, encompassing topics such as reproduction, behaviour, nutrition, genetics and veterinary medicine.