Giant pandas: biology, veterinary medicine and management

Abstract

1. The giant panda as a social, biological and conservation phenomenon 2. The giant panda biomedical survey: how it began and the value of people working together across cultures and disciplines 3. Factors limiting reproductive success in the giant panda as revealed by a biomedical survey 4. Significant medical issues and biological reference values for giant pandas from the biomedical survey 5. Life histories and behavioural traits as predictors of breeding status 6. Nutrition and dietary husbandry 7. Male reproductive biology in giant pandas in breeding programmes in China 8. Endocrinology of the giant panda and application of hormone technology to species management 9. The value and significance of vaginal cytology 10. Parentage assessment among captive giant pandas in China 11. The science of behavioural management: creating biologically relevant living environments in captivity 12. Evaluating stress and well-being in the giant panda: a system for monitoring 13. The neonatal giant panda: hand-rearing and medical management 14. Consequences of early rearing on socialization and social competence of the giant panda 15. Medical management of captive adult and geriatric giant pandas 16. Diseases and pathology of giant pandas 17. Ultrasonography to assess and enhance health and reproduction in the giant panda 18. Gastrointestinal endoscopy in the giant panda 19. Historical perspective of breeding giant pandas ex situ in China and high priorities for the future 20. Role and efficiency of artificial insemination and genome resource banking 21. Analysis of demographic and genetic trends for developing a captive breeding masterplan for the giant panda 22. Partnerships and capacity building for securing giant pandas ex situ and in situ: how zoos are contributing to conservation.