From Penguins to Pandas - the conservation game Chinese Animal Fact Files © RZSS 2014 China’s Wildlife China is home to an amazing number of species. It is the third* largest country in the world and has a wide range of habitats - high mountains, vast plains, dry deserts, many different forests and grasslands. China is also home to the third largest river in the world (the Yangtze) and the highest mountain (Mount Everest) lies on its border with Nepal. This pack includes quick fact files on some Chinese animals. Please note not all these animals are at Edinburgh Zoo or Highland Wildlife Park - those which are in the collection (as at May 2014) are clearly marked and further information can be found from Edinburgh Zoo or Highland Wildlife Park websites the fact files list the distribution of the species in China- some species may be found in other countries standard measurements are given for some species; length is head and body length without tail; tail length is given where appropriate. © RZSS Beyond the Panda *China is the third largest country in the world if calculated by land area. It comes 4th, after the USA, if land and sea areas are included. Russia is the largest country, Canada is second. 2 Asian elephant Elephas maximus Distribution south Yunnan Habitat mixed forests and grasslands Diet leaves and fruits Breeding gestation 615-668 days litter size 1 Lifespan 65-70 years Size Length 5.5–6.4m Tail length 1.2-1.5m Height male 3.2m female 2.5m Weight male 4,160kg female 2,720kg IUCN Red List Status Endangered Main threats habitat loss over-hunting for ivory tusks persecution by farmers for raiding crops 3 Asiatic golden cat Pardofelis temminckii Distribution central and south east China Habitat mixed forests, tropical forests and grasslands Diet small mammals including small deer, birds and lizards Breeding gestation 85-95 days litter size 2-3 Lifespan 12-15 years Size Length 75-105cm Tail length 40-56cm Weight 9-16kg IUCN Red List Status Near Threatened Main threat habitat loss 4 Bactrian camel Camelus bactrianus Distribution Taklamakan and Gobi deserts Habitat desert Diet desert plants and leaves of thorn trees and bushes. Breeding gestation 400 days litter size 1-2 Lifespan 30 years Size - Length 3.2–3.5m Height 1.6-1.8m Weight 450-680kg IUCN Red List Status Critically Endangered Main threats habitat loss over-hunting hybridisation with domestic camels 5 Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla Distribution throughout south east China and Taiwan Habitat tropical and coniferous forests Diet ants and termites Breeding gestation 120-150 days litter size 1 Lifespan 10-12 years Size Length 42-92cm Tail length 28-35cm Weight 2.4-7kg IUCN Red List Status Endangered Main threat over-hunting for food and Traditional Chinese Medicine 6 Giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca Distribution Sichuan, Gansu and Shanxi Habitat mountain bamboo forests Diet 99% of diet is bamboo but they will also eat fruits and small mammals Breeding gestation 112-163 days1 litter size 1-22 1there can be delayed implantation 2 but when 2 cubs are born, the mother will only rear the stronger cub Lifespan 25-30 years Size Length 150-180cm Tail length 12-15cm Weight 85-125kg IUCN Red List Status Endangered Main threat habitat loss 7 Golden snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus roxellana Distribution western–central China Habitat mixed forests Diet leaves, bark, fruits and insects Breeding gestation 180-190 days litter size 1 Lifespan 20-25 years Size Length 52-78cm Tail length 57-80cm Weight male 15-17kg female 6.5-10kg IUCN Red List Status Endangered Main threat habitat loss over-hunting for Traditional Chinese Medicine 8 Large eared pika Ochotona macrotis Distribution high mountain ranges across west China Habitat high rocky landscapes Diet grasses, leaves, twigs, mosses, and lichens Breeding gestation 30 days litter size 1-4 Lifespan 1-3 years Size Length 15-20cm Weight 142-190g IUCN Red List Status Least concern Main threat No known threats 9 Moon bear Ursus thibetanus Distribution central, south and north east China Habitat mixed forests Diet berries, buds, nuts, acorns, invertebrates and small vertebrates Breeding gestation 200-240 days litter size 1-2 Lifespan 25 years Size Length 1.2-1.9m Tail length 5-16cm Weight male 60-200kg female 40-140kg IUCN Red List Status Vulnerable Main threat habitat loss over-hunting for Traditional Chinese Medicine 10 Pallas cat Otocolobus manul Distribution central, north and west China Habitat low mountains, hilly, rocky deserts Diet small rodents, birds, hares and voles Breeding gestation 65-70 days litter size 3-6 Lifespan 8-10 years Size Length 45-65cm Tail length 21-35cm Weight 2.3-4.5kg IUCN Red List Status Near Threatened Main threat over-hunting for fur habitat loss 11 Pere David’s deer Elaphurus davidianus Distribution formerly in north east China Habitat formerly in lowland grasslands Diet grass, reeds, leaves Breeding gestation 270-300 days litter size 1 (rarely 2) Lifespan 18 years Size Length 150-200cm Tail length 50cm Weight 150-200kg IUCN Red List Status Extinct in the wild Some reintroductions Main threat over-hunting 12 Przewalski’s horse Equus ferus przewalskii Distribution formerly north west China Habitat formerly semi-desert Diet grass Breeding gestation 330-360 days litter size 1 Lifespan 20-25 years Size Length 180-280cm Tail length 38-60cm Height 120-146cm Weight 200-350kg IUCN Red List Status Not Evaluated - Extinct in China (It was extinct in the wild but has been reintroduced to Mongolia and China) Main threat spread of domestic forms and interbreeding 13 Pygmy slow loris Nycticebus pygmaeus Distribution south east Yunnan Habitat tropical rainforest Diet fruits, insects, tree sap and nectar, possibly small vertebrates. Breeding gestation 190 days litter size 1 Lifespan 20 years Size Length 21-26cm Tail length 1cm Weight 250-800g IUCN Red List Status Vulnerable Main threat habitat loss over-hunting for Traditional Chinese Medicine 14 Red panda Ailurus fulgens Distribution central and south west China Habitat mixed forests; bamboo forests Diet small vertebrates, eggs, berries and seeds Breeding gestation 120-150 days litter size 1-4 Lifespan 10-12 years Size Length 51-73cm Tail length 37-48cm Weight 2.5-5kg IUCN Red List Status Vulnerable Main threat habitat loss 15 Siberian musk deer Moschus moschiferus Distribution north east and north west China Habitat coniferous forests Diet leaves, herbs and lichen Breeding gestation 180 days litter size 1-3 Lifespan 20 years Size Length 65–90cm Tail length 4-6cm Weight 8-12kg IUCN Red List Status Vulnerable Main threat over-hunting for musk gland to make genuine musk perfume 16 Snow leopard Panthera uncia Distribution Himalayan mountains and Tibetan plateau Habitat mountains Diet wild sheep, goats, pikas, hares and birds Breeding gestation 90-100 days litter size 2-3 Lifespan 15-20 years Size Length 110-130cm Tail length 80-100cm Weight male 45-55kg female 35-40kg IUCN Red List Status Endangered Main threat over-hunting for Traditional Chinese Medicines persecution by farmers for killing livestock 17 Sun bear Helarctos malayanus Distribution Sichuan, north west Yunnan and south east Xizang Habitat tropical rainforest Diet insects, small mammals, birds, fruits and honey Breeding- gestation 95-96 days litter size 1-2 Lifespan 25-30 years Size Length 100-140cm Tail length 3-7cm Weight 25-65kg IUCN Red List Status Globally - Vulnerable but may be extinct in China Main threat habitat loss over-hunting for Traditional Chinese Medicine 18 Takin Budorcas taxicolor Distribution central south China Habitat alpine meadows, valleys and forests Diet grasses, bamboo shoots, leaves Breeding gestation 200-220 days litter size 1 Lifespan 16-18 years Size Length 170-220cm Tail length 10-21cm Height 107-140cm Weight 250-600kg IUCN Red List Status Vulnerable Main threat over-hunting habitat loss 19 Tiger Panthera tigris Distribution central and south east China; north east China border with Amur Habitat tropical rainforests, mixed forests Diet wild boar, deer and other small to medium sized mammals Breeding gestation 90-105 days litter size 1-6 Lifespan 15-20 years Size Length 140-280cm Tail length 91-110cm Weight 90-306kg IUCN Red List Status Critically Endangered [3 subspecies of tigers come from China: the South China tiger, Indochinese tiger and the Amur tiger. The South China tiger is listed as Critically Endangered but is possibly extinct; the Indochinese and Amur are listed as Endangered.] Main threats habitat loss over-hunting for Traditional Chinese Medicine 20 White handed gibbon Hylobates lar Distribution south west Yunnan Habitat tropical rainforests Diet mostly fruits, some insects Breeding gestation 210-240 days litter size 1 Lifespan 25-30 years Size Length 45-60cm Weight 3.9-7kg IUCN Red List Status Endangered Main threat habitat loss 21 Yangzte river dolphin Lipotes vexillifer Distribution middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze Habitat fresh water Diet fish Breeding gestation 300 days litter size 1 Lifespan 22-25 years Size Length male 2.2m female 2.5m Weight male 135-160kg female 240kg IUCN Red List Status Critically Endangered Main threat pollution 22 Long eared owl Asio otus Distribution east central China Habitat coniferous forest Diet small mammals and birds Breeding incubation 26-28 days eggs 5-7 Lifespan 27 years Size Height 35-38cm IUCN Red List Status Least Concern Main threat habitat loss (The long eared owl is not considered threatened globally as there is an abundant population across the world but in China there is just an isolated population.)