Giant Panda

Binomial name

The scientific name of panda is Ailuropoda melanoleuca. Chinese people call it

“da xiong mao”.

Population and distribution

 The wild population of giant panda is about 1000 individuals, with around 100

individuals in zoos in China and around the world. They are found only in the bamboo

forests in the mountains of central Peoples Republic of China, including the provinces

of Gansu, Shaanxi, and Sichuan.

Pandas are usually found in the mountains at about 3000 meters above sea level. In

the winter they sometimes make their way down to about 800 meters. They do not

make a permanent den, but take shelter in any suitable cavity in trees or rock crevices.
They do not hibernate, but instead come down to lower elevations where it is warmer

and more food is available. Pandas live mainly on the ground, but are able to climb

Habitat

The natural habitat of the giant panda is cool, wet, cloudy mountain forest land

where bamboo grows. Giant pandas are found in mixed deciduous/evergreen

temperate forests, between 3,000 and 10,500 feet (900-3,200 m) in altitude (below the
timberline). Pandas used to also live at lower altitudes, but farming and land

development have pushed the pandas high into the mountains.

Biology and behavior

 Panda is a kind of Carnivora mammals, a kind of bear. The giant panda does not

make a permanent den but takes shelter in hollow trees, rock crevices and caves. It

spends 10 - 12 hours a day feeding. It is mainly terrestrial but can climb trees well.

Activity is largely crepuscular and nocturnal. It does not hibernate but descends to

lower elevations in the winter to reach warmer temperatures. The giant panda has an

enlarged, movable wrist bone that serves as an opposable "false thumb" to the normal

five toes on its front paws. This bone is used to grasp bamboo stems while eating.

Physical characteristics

The giant panda is about 1.2 - 1.5 meters in length and weighs 75 - 160 kg. They

have a thick coat of black and white hair and are probably one of the most

recognizable animals with a white body and head, black legs, ears, and eye patches.

Hibernation and fasting

 Giant pandas do not hibernate since their food is available all year long. Also, the

bamboo they eat is not high enough in nourishment to fatten them up for the winter.

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

warmer; they also take shelter in hollow trees or dens. They don't seem to have

permanent dens.

Hunting and diet

Pandas have the most specialized diet of any of the bears. Their diet is almost

exclusively two species of bamboo (arrow and umbrella bamboo). Pandas eat about

40 pounds (18 kg) of food each day. Bamboo is very low in nutrition. Even though the

panda eats this plant, it cannot digest it very well and most of the bamboo passes

undigested through the digestive tract. It has to eat for up to 12 hours every day in

order to get enough nourishment. Its throat and stomach have extra-tough linings to

protect them from the tough food.

Video address: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals/mammals-

animals/bears-and-pandas/pandas_wild.html