“I’d eat the last panda if I could have the money we’ve spent on panda conservation back on the table for me to do more sensible things with,” said British Conservationist and BBC star, Chris Packham, in a Daily News interview. Unless Packham is referring to Panda Express, at first this claim appears to be an gross overreaction. However, there is a real danger that lies behind the preservation of these cuddly creatures: the death of thousands of species. Unfortunately, the high cost of conservation efforts for pandas has long outweighed the benefits. Considering the disproportionate ratio of species in crisis to the limited amount of resources allotted to conservation, it is imperative to utilize these resources to protect other endangered species.
While it is important to conserve all endangered species, the fact of the matter is, panda conservation efforts are simply not enough to combat the effects of their poor lifestyle. Despite living in lush and biodiversity-full mountains and forests, pandas insist on surviving on a diet of bamboo, a fibrous plant that their digestive systems can’t handle. This means that they intake few nutrients and need to eat more to compensate for this. More alarming than their penchant for non nutritional foods is the giant panda’s reproductive abilities. On average, a panda in captivity gives birth to one cub every two years—a lower rate of reproduction than most mammals in captivity. According to Live Science, this is largely due to the fact that pandas participate in complex mating rituals, preventing them from reproducing at a quicker rate. Because of this, the funding that these animals receive doesn’t guarantee their survival; in fact, the reproductive and survival rates of pandas in captivity are still relatively low. If the pandas aren’t willing to fight for their survival, why are we as humans so insistent on it?
It is naive to assume that the popularity and cuteness of the giant panda do not play a massive role in conservation efforts. From Kung Fu Panda’s Po to various panda themed foods that line grocery store aisles, pandas are one of the most iconic animals in media today. This also means that they gathered over 225 million dollars in conservation efforts in 2022—more than any amphibian or reptile. The Scientific American argues that “conservation biology suffers from a phenomenon known as taxonomic bias,” meaning that flagship species, such as tigers, whales, and pandas get incredibly disproportionate amounts of funding from the government, research facilities, and NGOs. They also bring in more money from donors; these species are more protected than their unpopular reptilian and amphibian counterparts. This bias doesn’t stop at funding: a study by Fordham University discovered that despite 79% of species on Earth being invertebrates, only 11% of research and literature focus on them. These smaller creatures are imperative to the ecosystem and by allocating funds to pandas that could help save insects and reptiles, many animals suffer. Instead, it is important to give more attention and resources to these animals so that they can continue to survive and help the ecosystem thrive.
Until that happens, these underrepresented species must bear this pandamonium.