Fauna of Asia.

Asia is a vast and diverse continent with many types of climates, temperature extremes, and large and small human populations. Many portions of Asia, such as Siberia, are almost empty of people. Some areas are quite densely populated, such as Java in Indonesia, Japan, India, and much of China. In areas where the human population is thin, the extremes of climate do not allow for an abundance of wildlife. Many species are near extinction, endangered, or at risk because those areas of Asia that have a climate good for fauna are also densely populated. Some species, however, may have become too specialized for survival. The giant panda eats only bamboo and has an inefficient digestive system. This requires a giant panda to eat large quantities of bamboo. The panda also reproduces slowly. This characteristic may have evolved because the panda has few or no natural enemies—except humans. This type of adaptation can prove to be fatal for a species when factors such as climate, habitat, and predators change.