Effects of noise on the survival of captive Chinese red panda (Ailurus styani) cubs

In order to investigate the effects of noise on the survival of captive Chinese red pandas (Ailurus styani) cubs, the environmental noise of five female animals and their cubs were measured and recorded at Hetaoping Base, Wolong, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda from May to November 2020, and comprehensively analyzed by combining the relevant data such as temperature and humidity, and the days of abandonment. The results indicated that there was a significant negative correlation between the number of days of abandonment and the average noise of the first 5 days after birth (P<0.01). The average noise of 65.02±1.12 dB (the maximum noise in this peord was 97.38±1.88 on average) could cause the newborn mother to abandon her cubs and affected the survival. When the time of ≥70 dB noise was more than 1.33%, it may affected newborn mother and increase the risk of abandonment. Correspondingly, the average noise ≤54.64±0.93 dB (the maximum noise were ≤92.10±9.80 dB on average) had rarely effect the newborn mother and cubs. There was no correlation between the number of days of abandoned cubs and the average monthly noise, average temperature and humidity (P>0.05). These results revealed the noise range that affected the abandonment of Chinese red panda female, and the average noise ≤54.64±0.93 dB could avoid abandonment, which was of great significance to improve the survival rate of cubs.