“A panda that was relocated after China's deadly earthquake damaged her home gave birth to twin cubs on Sunday, a state news agency said. GuoGuo is the first panda to give birth since the 7.9-magnitude quake struck Sichuan province on May 12.

One cub weighed 6 ounces however GuoGuo was cuddling the other cub, so the Panda Research Center were unable to weigh it. The report didn't give the sex of the twins.

Twelve-year-old GuoGuo was moved to the Bifengxia panda center after the quake caused heavy damage at the Wolong Nature Reserve, China's main panda breeding center where GuoGuo normally lives.”                 (www.azstarnet.com)

Biodiversity is the variety of all living things; the different plants, animals and micro organisms, their ecosystem and genetic diversity. Biodiversity is explored into, genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity. These three levels work together to create the complexity of life on Earth.

We should concentrate on saving more genetically diverse groups, because if we lose one species we lose a substantial genetic resource due to the fact that not all groups of animals have the same degree of genetic diversity.

The optimum method that should be used in order to conserve biodiversity is through conserving their habitat and ecosystems. Most of the conservation campaigns are centered and built to rescue a specific species from extinction whereas if a certain species is under threat then it is most likely the whole habitat is at risk too.

The greatest threat to biodiversity is the size and rate of growth of human population. Every day, more people need more space, consume more resources and generate more waste as world population continues to grow at an alarming rate. We pollute soil, water and air as we cause habitat change through agricultural, urban and industrial development.

As pandas are on the road of extinction, we surely will lose a genetic resource however the human population will survive for years to come till the day reaches where we will be the only living species on earth.

Rony Gedeon