Giant panda in 1869: David describes the panda · 427
[426] [read-giant-panda-8-26] In 1869, the field log for Giant panda is headed “David describes the panda.” The figure kept beside that heading is 2016. It is a count or a date from the work, not a rank of the species’ worth. A zoo birthday card does not replace the log. The giant panda body plan will remain recognisable. The map of secure versus threatened populations will not.
The 1961 logo drew on Chi-Chi at London Zoo -- a high-contrast animal that printed well. The brand and the wild census later had to share one face. Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing at the National Zoo made panda diplomacy a Cold War soft-power tool that China still uses as loans, not gifts.
The Sichuan earthquake killed staff and animals and wrecked the breeding centre. Rebuilding became a national reconstruction exhibit. An American who took Su Lin out of China in 1936 -- a living-export story that predates modern loan contracts. Is captive breeding the wild recovery?
Captive numbers rose. Wild recovery needs corridors (the national park idea) more than more cubs on camera. No. Ailurus is a different family. This atlas type is the giant panda only. Giant panda is one of 24 types in this animals atlas. The pages treat it as a full system -- history, anatomy, operating principles, culture, icons, future pressure and market shape -- not a ranking of a best species.
Keep 1869, “David describes the panda,” and 2016 together or the note on Giant panda stops being that year’s record.1869
Figures to keep
- Year of the note
- 1869
- Figure to keep
- 2016
- Species
- Giant panda
- Line in the log
- David describes the panda
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