The Giant Panda

  I would like to share with you one of my articles that I have shared in Tsinoy.com (the website was dissolved and non-existing now), it was featured on their 'Chopsuey' section on November 7, 2007. I would like to thank the former editor of Tsinoy.com, Ms. Blessy Feliciano for editing this article of mine. My handle or nickname at Tsinoy.com is Bluelei. The photos below are all my artworks. I used MS Paint and Adobe Photoshop CS6 in creating them, with my Genius EasyPenM406.

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The Giant Panda

I once owned a cute Panda stuffed toy. I lost it due to the carelessness of the previous occupants of the house where I used to reside. Only the memories way back rekindles my fondness to these charmingly and enchanting creatures. 

A delight of nature, the Giant Panda has a scientific name of Ailuropoda melanoleuca and Chinese name of Dao Xiong Mao. It is commonly found in Central western and South Western China. No other animal both signifies the beauty and struggle of life in China than the Panda. Though it is included in the number of international conservation, they still remain on the endangered list of animals. 

Their black patches around its eyes and body characterize the pandas. They never cease to amaze the public with their playful and childlike nature. They belong to the order Carnivora but surprisingly their diet is 99% vegetarian. They also eat fish and poultry such as eggs. 

Pandas are often depicted in paintings as cute creatures clinging in bamboo trees and chewing pieces of bamboo leaves. Bamboos are really part of the Pandas diet. Even if bamboo is hard to digest and they need to eat a considerably large amount for them to be able to get the required nutrients, it is still indispensable in Panda's diet. Just imagine in the chilly mountain forest of Central China in Sichuan province, Pandas are peacefully nestled here. 

 

 In the ancient times, when emperors reign, Pandas are a symbol and emblem of good luck. They symbolize bravery and power. Now, they are made national emblems too. They can be seen in the World wildlife fund logo. 

 The expansion of human settlements has been pushing animals for them to have smaller habitats. Like the Pandas we strive to live in this world. Let us be one with nature and learn the importance of conservation. 

 For those interested to be a part of the WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, you can visit their website at http://www.worldwildlife.org/ (international) and in the Philippines http://www.wwf.org.ph/main.php

sources: The Lonely Planet CHINA and the worldwideweb