We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Captive pandas are at risk from environmental toxins.
- Authors
Chen, Yi‐ping; Maltby, Lorraine; Liu, Qiang; Song, Yi; Zheng, Ying‐juan; Ellison, Aaron M; Ma, Qing‐yi; Wu, Xiao‐min
- Abstract
Ex situ conservation efforts are the last resort for many critically endangered species, and captive breeding centers are thought to provide a safe environment for producing individuals for eventual re-introduction to the wild. The giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is one of the world's most endangered animals and is a widely recognized symbol for conservation. Here, we report that captive pandas in China experience environmental and dietary exposures to high concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and biphenyls) and heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead). In the short term, those animals exhibiting elevated levels of such toxins should be relocated to breeding centers in less contaminated areas. Ensuring the long-term survival of both captive and wild pandas depends in part on reducing atmospheric emissions of toxic pollutants throughout China.
- Subjects
RISK-return relationships; IDIOSYNCRATIC risk (Securities); RATE of return; TOXINS; ANTIGENS
- Publication
Frontiers in Ecology & the Environment, 2016, Vol 14, Issue 7, p363
- ISSN
1540-9295
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/fee.1310