A Speech on Pandas - The Outline

Name: Sabrina Regan

Date (of speech): April 19^th
Class time: 12:30-1:50pm
                                                                            Target Time: 5 minutes

Speech #: 1 (group 3)

General Purpose: To Inform

Specific Purpose: To Inform my audience about pandas

Central Idea: what are panda reserves, what are their habits, and how did they evolve?

                   I.         Introduction: Pandas are a scientific enigma, but through panda conservation programs and reserves scientists have been able to study their habits of today, while also uncovering parts of their mysterious evolutionary history in the process

                II.         Conservation

A.     FSA & USDA $ rent land/yr  (reserves)

1. Meant to save endangered animals

2. Funded through donations & taxes

a)      WWF

                                                                                                        i.            Largest independent conservation organization:

                                                                                                      ii.            Chi Chi: solo mystery kept as pets

Transition: Now as I mentioned, conservation programs help create and fund the reserves

B.     Reserves

1. Range depending on reserve/con program

a)      Wolong (150 pandas)

b)      Some natural as possible

                                                                                                        i.            Play structures

                                                                                                      ii.            Metal zoo-like pens

2. Observation rooms

a)      Cameras in reserves

b)      Cameras around the 6⁺ natural habitats left

Transition:  Of course these reserves have made an impact on the pandas’ natural habits, granted most of these habits have carried on with them into the reserves

             III.         Habits: Natural v. Unnatural

A.     Natural

1. Climbing (trees avoid predators)

2. “11 different calls to communicate with each other” Schreiber, National Geographic

a)      Not animal-like

                                                                                                        i.            Cub sound for help

                                                                                                      ii.            In pain: “owwwww”

3. 20-40lbs of bamboo/day =  22,000lbs/yr

4. Rolling

5. Don’t fear humans

a)      Wang Dajun, scientist @ Smithsonian: 1^st met

                                                                                                        i.            “One female panda he was tracking had become relaxed in his presence. So relaxed, in fact, that…as she was walking with her cub, she turned to Wang and indicated that she wanted him to babysit so she could head off to feed” Orlean, Smithsonian

                                                                                                      ii.            Danced with cub

6. Prefer solitude (only 1 changes in reserves)

B.     Unnatural (bread from reserves)

1. Social abilities w/ other pandas

a)      Enjoy playing games, swings, & slides

b)      Cuddling and developed hugging

Transition: because scientists have been able to study pandas they have actually been able to form many theories as to the mysteries behind the evolution of the panda, ones they’re very confident on

              IV.         Evolutionary History

A.     Mostly questions:

1.More bear or more raccoon or something else entirely?

2. Bamboo: why?

a)      Can’t digest it

b)      Lost taste for meat; a mystery

                                                                                                        i.            “Ancestors were carnivorous distant cousins of hyenas, saber-toothed cats and badgers” Orlean

B.     Theories:

1. Bamboo intelligence

2. Fur hides from predators

3. Black eye markings

4. Incredibly advanced; environmentally tuned

           V.    Summary: And that’s the information I’ve gathered on pandas and their evolutionary history, their conservation programs, and their habits.
           VI.  Conclusion: So even though pandas are endangered and a scientific enigma, it is with the help of the conservation programs that we have been able to learn about the habits of the panda while dwelling more into their mysterious evolutionary history, all of which has helped scientists finely tune reserves to help bring back the world’s most loved bear

Bibliography:

Conservation Programs." United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. USDA & FSA, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2016. <https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/index>.

Orlean, Susan. "Pandamonium! Evolution of the World's Best-Loved Bear." Smithsonian Jan. 2014: 30-39. Print.

Schreiber, Anne. Pandas. Washington D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2010. Print.

Unknown, . "World Wide Fund for Nature." Wikipedia. N.p., 15 Apr. 2016. Web. 13 Apr. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Fund_for_Nature>.