Two digestion trials by total feces collection method were conducted, using a male adult giant panda in captivity fed feedstuffs including bamboo. Collected pieces of feces were assorted according to undigested feedstuff mainly forming each piece of feces, and analyzed separately. The data were converted into undigested nutrients of each feedstuff with a calculating procedure devised to assess respective digestibility.

Cell wall constituents of bamboo were apparently digested to a certain extent, although the digestibility was low (24.1% and 15.0% in Experiment 1 and 2, respectively, in the case of NDF (neutral detergent fiber)). Cellular contents of the bamboo were also less digestible compared with those of the other feedstuffs, while nutrients in less fibrous feedstuffs (concentrates) were digested fairly well (more than 90%).

The amount of non structural carbohydrate of bamboo excreted in the feces, exceeded the amount ingested. This fact was considered to be due to imperfect digestion of cell wall constituents, resulting matters soluble in the detergent but not absorbed.

Regarding the importance of ingesting sufficient bamboo not only for supplying nutrients but also for supporting sound digestive conditions in the panda was discussed.

Forest fragmentation is a threat to flying squirrel population due to dependence on gliding locomotion in forests. Therefore, it is essential to understand their gliding ability. The gliding locomotion of Pteromys volans orii, were observed from July 2003 to June 2005, in Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan. The horizontal distance and glide ratio obtained from 31 glides were employed as indicators to know their gliding ability. The gliding ability was not affected by weight and sex in the Siberian flying squirrel. Mean horizontal distance and glide ratio were 18.90 m and 1.70 with great variation. Although maximum values were 49.40 m (horizontal distance) and 3.31 (glide ratio), most of the horizontal distance and glide ratio were in the ‘10–20 m’ and ‘1.0–1.5’, respectively. Therefore, to retain the flying squirrel populations, forest gaps should not exceed the distance traversable with a glide ratio of 1.0 (distance between forests/tree height at the forest edg).

A survey of the small mammals of Huu Lien Nature Reserve, Lang Son Province, Vietnam (21°40′52″N, 106°20′28″E) resulted in the capture of 187 specimens representing 21 species of bat, insectivore, and rodent: Suncus etruscus, Rhinolophus pearsonii, Rhinolophus pusillus, Rhinolophus stheno microglobosus, Aselliscus stoliczkanus, Hipposideros armiger, Hipposideros larvatus, Harpiocephalus harpia, Pipistrellus paterculus, Scotomanes ornatus, Callosciurus erythraeus, Dremomys rufigenis, Niviventer fulvescens, Niviventer langbianis, Tonkinomys daovantieni, Rattus andamanensis, Rattus losea, Rattus tanezumi, Mus caroli, Rhizomys pruinosus, and Atherurus macrourus. In addition Ratufa bicolor and Tamiops sp. are reported from observations. The recently described genus and species Tonkinomys daovantieni is currently known only from material collected during the present survey and is apparently endemic to karst habitats in northeastern Vietnam.