EXTENSION OF THE GEOGRAPHIC-DISTRIBUTION OF THE GIANT PANDA (AILUROPODA) AND SEARCH FOR THE REASONS FOR ITS PROGRESSIVE DISAPPEARANCE IN SOUTHEAST-ASIA DURING THE LATEST MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE

The rediscovery of Ailuropoda melanoleuca baconi in the Latest Middle Pleistocene of Northern Thailand extends the geographic distribution o f this subspecies southward and completes the recent history of this e ndangered species. The progressive disappearance of A. m. baconi in So utheast Asia is related to different climatic events (large increase i n temperature and rainfall) at the beginning of the last interglacial and then in the Holocene. These events have led to contractions of the distribution area of this animal northward in keeping with the area o f temperate bamboos, its favourite food.