Chris Packham's Panda Claims Called 'Irresponsible' by WWF Advisors

Wildlife presenter and TV personality Chris Packham’s latest comments that Panda’s should be ‘allowed to die out’ has been labelled ‘irresponsible’ by science advisor’s at the WWF UK. Mr Packham, who hosts BBC2’s Springwatch, claims that the species is not strong enough to survive on it’s own and that breeding the animals in captivity wa needless due to a lack of habitat to preserve them.

Mr Packham, said –

Here’s a species that of its own accord has gone down an evolutionary cul-de-sac. It’s not a strong species. Unfortunately, it’s big and cute and it’s a symbol of the World Wildlife Fund – and we pour millions of pounds into panda conservation. I reckon we should pull the plug. Let them go with a degree of dignity.

Animals are invariably becoming extinct because there’s no secure habitat for them.Where are you going to release them? I don’t think tigers are going to last another 15 years. How can you conserve an animal that’s worth more dead than alive? You can’t.

There is currently only 1600 Giant Pandas left in the wild, with another 180 being reared in captivity. Giant pandas have been dying out across the globe due to poaching and humans destroying their habitat, but they should still be given the same chance of survival as the next animal.

WWF conservation science adviser, Dr. Mark Wright, said –

Chris has taken an unhelpful position. Giant pandas can function and survive perfectly well if they’re given space to do so – which is exactly what we’re working to achieve. They are no more in an ‘evolutionary cul-de-sac’ than a blue whale that only eats krill.We agree that conservation work does involve some extremely hard decisions about how to spend limited resources. WWF chooses to work in areas that are rich in biodiversity and under threat.

Our work with pandas in China will remain a priority, not least because, in protecting the mountain areas where pandas live, we’re also retaining vital habitat and resources for thousands of other species (many also endangered) and helping the human communities that depend on this landscape.

These rare animals are still being hunted by collectors for their skin, event hough poching them carries a severe penalty. WWF has been working hard with the Chinese government since 1980 to help create over 60 protected forest areas for the giant panda, and continues to this day to connect more forests where the panda can roam safely.