China

The People's Republic of China is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of over 1.4 billion. China has five time zones and borders fourteen countries on land. With an area of nearly 9.6 million square kilometers, it is the third largest country in the world in terms of total land area. The country's capital is Beijing and its most populated city and financial center is Shanghai. China's huge and changing landscapes are home to a huge variety and richness of wildlife. There are many animal species endemic in China, including the Giant Panda, the country's most famous animal. In total, around one-sixth of mammal species and two-thirds of amphibian species are endemic to China. In China, at least 840 species are endangered, vulnerable or threatened with local extinction, mainly due to human activities such as habitat destruction, pollution and poaching for food, fur and traditional Chinese medicine. The country is home to 21 species of primates, including gibbons, macaques, Leaf Monkeys, Grey Langurs, Snub-Nosed Monkeys and lorises. Among China's big cat species are the tiger, leopard, Snow Leopard and Clouded Leopard. The Siberian tiger is found in the northeast, near the border between Russia and North Korea. Bears that are more common in China include the Asiatic Black Bear and the Brown Bear. The Red Panda is a separate family and is to be found in Sichuan and Yunnan. China has a total of 1314 bird species, of which 52 are endemic, two are introduced by humans and 55 are rare. China's birdlife includes ducks, geese, waterfowl, flamingos, herons, pigeons, bustards, cuckoos and many more.