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Braille has been adapted to write many different languages, including Chinese, and is also used for musical and mathematical notation.

4,000 square miles and over 45 percent of remaining giant panda habitat

around 61 percent of the population, or about 980 pandas, are under protection in reserves

1,600 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.

white coat with black fur around their eyes, on their ears, muzzle, legs and shoulders

The unique physical features of the species include broad, flat molars and an enlarged wrist bone that functions as an opposable thumb

Giant pandas are classified as bears

5 feet long from nose to rump, with a 4-6 inch tail

adult panda can weigh about 220-330 pounds

habitat is found at the top of the Yangtze Basin

microbats eat insects, blood (small quantities of the blood of animals), small mammals, and fish

Mother bats usually have only one offspring per year

they are viviparous

Young microbats become independent at the age of 6 to 8 weeks

At the age of two years, bats are sexually mature

megabats not until they are four months old

A single bat can live over 20 years

Most microbats are active at night or at twilight

Bats rarely fly in rain

the rain interferes with their echo location

Only three species sustain themselves with blood.

Only 0.5% of bats carry rabies

Bats have very small teeth and can bite a sleeping person without being felt

Bats are closely associated with vampires

Bats are also a symbol of ghosts, death, and disease

Chinese lore claims the bat is a symbol of longevity and happiness

the bat is a trickster spirit

In Western Culture, the bat is often a symbol of the night and its foreboding nature

A measure of the success of bats is their estimated total of about 1,100 species worldwide, accounting for about 20 percent of all mammal species.

For the following 700 years, shoguns from a succession of clans ruled in Japan, while the imperial court existed in relative obscurity.

Suspicious of Christianity and of Portuguese support of a local Japanese revolt, the shoguns of the Tokugawa period (1603–1867) prohibited all trade with foreign countries; only a Dutch trading post at Nagasaki was permitted.

The Japanese began to take steps to extend their empire.

In World War I, Japan seized Germany's Pacific islands and leased areas in China.

At the Washington Conference of 1921–1922, Japan agreed to respect Chinese national integrity, but, in 1931, it invaded Manchuria.

The dropping of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 by the United States finally brought the government to admit defeat. Japan surrendered formally on Sept. 2, 1945, aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

The U.S. and Japan signed a security treaty in 1951, allowing for U.S. troops to be stationed in Japan. In 1952, Japan regained full sovereignty, and, in 1972, the U.S. returned to Japan the Ryuku Islands, including Okinawa.

A shrewd trade policy gave Japan larger shares in many Western markets, an imbalance that caused some tensions with the U.S.

During the 1990s, Japan suffered an economic downturn prompted by scandals involving government officials, bankers, and leaders of industry. Japan succumbed to the Asian economic crisis in 1998, experiencing its worst recession since World War II.

The embattled Mori resigned in April 2001 and was replaced by Liberal Democrat Junichiro Koizumi—the country's 11th prime minister in 13 years.

Koizumi was overwhelmingly reelected in Sept. 2003 and promised to push ahead with tough economic reforms.

In April 2005, China protested the publication of Japanese textbooks that whitewashed the atrocities committed by Japan during World War II.

Princesss Kiko gave birth to a boy in September.

The child's birth spares Japan a controversial debate over whether women should be allowed to ascend to the throne.

He suffered a stunning blow in July 2007 parliamentary elections, however, when his Liberal Democratic Party lost control of the upper house to the opposition Democratic Party.

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck in northwest Japan in July 2007, killing 10 people and injuring more than 900. The tremor caused skyscrapers in Tokyo to sway for almost a minute, buckled roads and bridges, and damaged a nuclear power plant. About 315 gallons of radioactive water leaked into the Sea of Japan.

he move followed a string of scandals and the stunning defeat of his Liberal Democratic Party in July's parliamentary elections

In June 2008, the upper house of Parliament, which is controlled by the opposition, censured Fukuda, citing his management of domestic issues.

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which won control of the upper house of Parliament in 2007, poses a viable threat to the Liberal Democrats who have been in control for more than 50 years.

symbol of peace in China

Female pandas are called sows

males are called boars

young are called cubs

Most bears' eyes have round pupils

giant panda, whose pupils are vertical slits

Pandas have very good eyesight

largest pandas grow to be about 250 pounds

5.25 to 6 feet (1.6 to 1.8 m) long

weighs about 220 pounds

40 pounds (18 kg) of food each day

Bamboo is very low in nutrition

cannot digest it very well

12 hours every day

throat and stomach have extra-tough linings to protect them from the tough food

captivity (zoos and breeding centers), pandas eat bamboo, rice cereal, carrots, apples, and sweet potatoes

usually eat while sitting in an upright positio

strong teeth and jaws are very important to a panda's survival

Giant pandas have large molars (flat teeth used for crushing food)

few sharp teeth which they use to bite tough bamboo stalks

Pandas have 42 teeth

very thick, oily, woolly fur

two types of hairs

long, thick, coarse hairs

fur is waterproof

shorter, fine, dense underfur

endangered species

roughly 1,000-1,500 pandas living in the wild (in China)

120 living in zoos and breeding centers around the world

extremely vulnerable to extinction because of humans

mostly shy, solitary animals

mostly silent, but they can bleat!

11 different calls, four of which are only used during mating

live longer in captivity than in the wild

Unlike many other bears, pandas cannot walk on their hind legs

do not hibernate since their food is available all year long

During the cold winter months, giant pandas go to lower altitudes where it is a bit warmer

don't seem to have permanent dens

very slow reproductive rate

mate in the spring

give birth between 95 and 160 days after mating

disadvantages.

flats.

Living in a huge metropolis you’ll never be bored, you can always find something

interesting for you.

Shanghai is a fascinating mix of East and West. It has historic shikumen houses that blended the styles of Chinese houses with European design flair, and it has one of the richest collections of art deco

buildings in the world.

With temperate weather year-round, and blue skies much of the year, anytime is a good time to visit Los Angeles. There are so many things to see and do in Los Angeles that a single trip just isn't enough.

Historic, bustling, awe-inspiring, Manila is a blend of cultures and flavors that offers an endless serving of places to see, sights to behold, and experiences to never forget.

a beehive of activity that offers a jovial nightlife and an intense cultural experience. Sao Paulo is one of the richest cities in the southern hemisphere. A large sprawling city can present numerous challenges to sensibilities.

New York City is one of the global centers of international finance, politics, communications, film, music, fashion, and culture, and is among the world's most important and influential cities.

It is home to many world-class museums, art galleries, and theatres.

he pace of life is more hurried; time is money and money is important.

largest port cities and looms large as the commercial capital of India.

Delhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world