Grade level: 6th – 8th grades
Skills: Percentage
Related environmental issues: Biodiversity & Deforestation
[The use of a calculator is permitted]
Giant panda has long been on the endangered species list because the forests they live in China have been destroyed as the population in the country grows. However, due to conservation efforts made by the Chinese government, wild panda numbers have been increasing. The pandas are still at risk but they are now off the endangered species list.
According a survey, there are 1,864 giant pandas in the wild, and the population has grown by 16.8% over the last decade. The survey also found that 66.8% of wild giant pandas live within protected panda nature reserves in China, while the rest live outside of the protected areas.
- How many wild giant pandas were there 10 years ago? How many more giant pandas do we have now? Round to the nearest ones.
- How many giant pandas live outside of the protected panda nature reserves? Round to the nearest ones.
Source: WWF, 2015. Panda population grows nearly 17 percent
Photo: WWF
Answer keys
- There were 1,596 pandas ten years ago. The population increased by 268 [116.8/1864 = 100/X]
- 619 [1,864 x (1 – 0.668)]