Another day, another scary story. Will this catch on, replacing the polar bear, a giant carnivore which kills in a bloody frenzy?
(Grist) Internet dwellers, unite! The red panda, lord of all things cute, is in danger, and only we can help it.
That’s right — the smiling, red-faced stuffed animal that puts your most adorable kids and kittens to shame — is not doing so great these days, thanks to an expanding human population and all the deforestation, disease, and testy domestic dogs that come with it, The New York Times reports. Oh, and SPOILER ALERT — climate change, too.
Look at them! Look!
Seriously, take a peek. Total cuteness!
Here’s how Elizabeth Freeman, a conservation biologist at George Mason University, explained it to The Times:
“I think down the road what may actually do them in is climate change,†Dr. Freeman said. “Because they are in such a small niche in the Himalayas, and as climate change warms that area and moves that population higher in elevation, they’re going to lose habitat probably faster than they can accommodate to climate change.â€
She added, “I see them as being a critical indicator species for the health of the Himalayan ecosystem, probably more so than giant pandas.â€
This is exactly one of the main reasons I despise the whole Cult Of Climastrology: they have to not only make everything about “climate change”, but make it the main focal point. Refer back to the first excerpt: “…thanks to an expanding human population and all the deforestation, disease, and testy domestic dogs…” So, Red Pandas face real issues, but, hey, climate change!!!!! Red Pandas have seen lots of higher and lower temps during their time on earth. They’ve dealt with multiple Holocene warm periods that were warmer than today, and, guess what? They survived. But, they might not survive the real issues, which have been pushed aside in favor of a stupid political issue.
Your failure to recognize what 99% of scientists understand is what causes your discomfiture. Relax and understand that we’re changing the global climate and this will have widespread impacts – some good, but mostly bad. The impact of global warming is widespread and is in addition to other impacts on a particular issue.
For red pandas the article describes human-caused habitat loss – deforestation – and diseases and dogs and habitat warming – as problems for the population in a tiny niche in the Himalayas.
from the NYT article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/science/red-pandas-are-adorable-and-in-trouble.html?action=click&contentCollection=science®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0
Yes Teach when/if the climate changes one big factor will also how 7 billion humans are able to deal with it
Rich white men will be effected the least