Behavioral Research On Innate Predator Recognition In Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca) By Sound

Animal species recognition is essential for survival in the wild in a capacity,which enables the animal to distinguish predators,thus effectively evade improve survival.Studies captive giant panda(never lived in the wild environment)for the wild animal sounds associated recognition ability,reintroduction and field work for the giant panda research provide scientific information and guidance.The giant panda’s companion animal mainly refers to:animals,in the wild environment,which overlap the ecological niche of giant panda,are large and medium-sized mammals.Because this kind of animal can pose a threat to the giant panda’s life or compete with limited food resources,so the companion animals are divided into two categories:predators and competitors.Predators are leopard(Panthera pardus),the clouded leopard(Neofelis nebulosa),jackal(Cuonal pinus),yellow throat mink(Martes flavigula),golden cat(Catopumate mminckii)etc.,the main competitors are wild boar(Suss crofa),the red panda(Ailurus fulgens),bamboo rat(Rhizo myidae),sambar(Rusa unicolor),goat(Capra aegagrus),etc.This test is in the bifengxia base of China giant panda protection and research center,using a leopard,and clouded leopard,jackals,wild boar,goats and sambar recordings of 10 adult captive breeding pandas for species identification research.The main results were as follows:1.Effect on vigilant time spent from companion animal sound:The vigilant behavioral time of giant panda for the voice of predator was significantly more than the voice of competitor and blank controller.The vigilant behavioral time of giant panda for the voice of competitor was more than blank control group,but not significant.2.Responses of male and female panda to companion animal:The vigilant behavioral time under the voice of predator for male panda was more than female,but the discrepancy was not significant.the vigilant behavioral time under the voice of competitor for male panda was more than female,but the discrepancy was not significant.3.Effect on vigilant time spent fromdifferent predator sound:Thevigilant behavioral time under the voice of leopard,snow leopard and jackal for male panda was extremely significant.The vigilant behavioral time under the voice of leopard was more significant than clouded leopard and jackal.The vigilant behavioral time under the voice of clouded leopard was more than jackal’s,but the discrepancy was not significant.4.Effect on vigilant time spent fromdifferent competitor sound:The vigilant behavioral time under the three voices for panda was extremely significant.The vigilant behavioral time under the voice of wild boar was extremely significant than red deer,the discrepancy of the vigilant behavioral time under the voice of goat and red deer was not significant,the discrepancy of the vigilant behavioral time under the voice of goat and wild boar was not significant neither.5.In all subjects of pandas only two pandas showed the escape behavior,and escape behavior frequency only three times.The results showed that:The giant panda can recognize voice of predator and competitor.No difference existed in male and female adult panda’s acoustical recognition for predator and competitor.Thegiant panda can distinguish different predator and competitor,and show the differences in behavior.The escape behavior of captive giant pandas have degenerated in captivity for a long time process.