Cape Karen
I decided to create a rug-hooked mat of a panda bear and, therefore, I have been poking around at various wildlife and endangered species websites to see what I could learn about these amazingly beautiful and gentle creatures.
I've learned that they are trying to breed the giant panda's at the San Diego Zoo in California, and at various zoos around the country, and that they have had some limited success. 
I've also learned why they are on the endangered species list. Their bamboo habitat's in China are becoming increasingly depleted of two varieties of bamboo; bamboo which the pandas need to survive. (This is due to human expansion. . . of course.)
Without the bamboo forests, starvation is their fate; and with only 1,000-1,600 giant pandas left in the world, this is truly alarming!
I have never seen a panda bear up close and personal, but I sure would like to! I can't even imagine a day when we'll have to tell our children and our grandchildren:
"We used to have these beautiful black and white bears, called Giant Pandas, in China. . . . but then, we deforested their habitat's, and so they all starved to death."
I know there are many other animals on the endangered species list, and they are all equally beautiful, amazing and valuable to our eco-system and our lives - but, for some reason, these unique bears have captured my heart. I am going to "adopt" one, and I plan to continue learning all I can about how I can make a difference. Maybe I can help to save the Giant Panda Bear from extinction.
I hope you'll Google "Giant Panda Bears" and learn all about these gentle giants. Or, visit the San Diego zoo; if you can't go in person, then go to their website. It's wonderful reading, they have great photos, and they even have voice video at some of the websites.
By spending some time online, I discovered that the Giant Panda makes a sound like a sheep - a little bleating, barking noise; that when they are born, panda cubs are only the size of a tootsie roll. When twins are born, the mother bear only has enough milk to feed one cub - so she has to let the other one starve. (Zoos have found a way around that sad fact - they simply alternate the cubs for breast feedings, and they also use pre-mixed formula.)
Once you've "met" them, online or in person, I know you'll feel compelled to join my feeble, but heartfelt, effort. If we try, really try, maybe together we can help them hang on ~ now ~ and into the future.
