The Giant Panda The giant panda is a bear. There is much discussion about whether they are bears, raccoons, or their own species. They share some features of bears and some features of raccoons. The giant panda does not hibernate during the winter. Due to their leaner diets, they do not build up the excess fat needed to hibernate. Also, they live in a habitat zone where food is available all year round. The panda is also a symbol of peace in China. Humans are the giant pandas only enemy. The Chinese government has taken steps to protect these endangered animals.
Facts
Habitat:The Giant Panda lives in the Chinese mountain ranges that have dense forests of bamboo.
Diet: Giant pandas are classified as carnivores (meat-eating
mammals). While bamboo represents 99% of their diet they have also
been known to eat fish, rodents, vines, mushrooms and rice grass. The panda assumes a sitting position to eat. Their unique forepaws have
an enlarged wristbone that they can flex like a thumb. This allows them
to direct bamboo stalks to their mouths where they strip off bites with
their teeth. About 12 hours each day are spent feeding and they
consume 12-15% of their body weight each day. They drink water
usually just once a day.
Features: Giant panda bears have a massive head, heavy body,
short tail, rounded ears and plantigrade feet (both heel and toe make
contact with the ground when walking in a manner similar to humans).
Unlike many other bears, pandas do not walk on their hind legs and
only climb trees when threatened. Pandas area generally gentle
animals that avoid contact with others of its kind.The ears, eye patches, legs and shoulder band are black while the rest of the body is white. This black-and-white coloring may camouflage the panda in the snowy environment. The fur of the giant panda is thick and coarse. It consists of a coarse outer layer and a very dense, wooly-like
underfur. To the touch, the fur feels oily and this oily substance protects
and insulates the panda from the cool and damp climate it lives in.Giant pandas also have very good eyesight. Most bears have round
pupils. The giant pandas pupils are vertical slits like cat's eyes. The
Chinese people call the panda "Da Xiong Mao," which means "giant
bear cat" in Chinese.Size: The Panda is a large mammal about 5-6 feet high. They will
weigh up to 350 pounds with the males weighing about 10% more than females.
Mating: Female pandas are called sows, males are called boars,
and the young are called cubs. Female giant pandas mature at about 5 to 7 years of age. Mating begins in the spring with the panda bears
attracting each other with calls and odors.When cubs are born they are blind and pink in color with little white
hair. Their coat begins to darken about a month after their birth. The
cub, when born, is as big as a common mouse at about 28 inches long and weighing about 6 ounces.Panda cubs cry when they are hungry. They start eating bamboo when
they are about 6 months old. At one year of age, the cubs normally
weigh about 75 pounds. Panda cubs stay with their mother for one to
two years. They are fully grown in 2-4 years.
World Wildlife Fund: The lovable and charismatic panda is one of the most popular animals in the world. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most endangered.
Throughout much of its history, WWF has been working to save the giant panda in the wild through a variety of programs including education, habitat conservation, and increasing the capacity of local governments and people within the panda's home range.
It is estimated that as few as 1,000 pandas remain in the wild today.
The giant panda is a black and white bear that is becoming extinct. There may be only a little more than 1,000 pandas remaining in isolated areas. Giant pandas live only in the mountain ranges in the provinces of Western China. They inhabit damp, misty forests of bamboo and conifer at altitudes of 4,000-11,500 feet. Often the area is snow bound. They migrate higher in the summer, lower in the winter, and prefer areas that are undisturbed by human activity and that have easy access to clear mountain streams.
Question and Answer
1. Where does the Giant Panda live?
2. What type of environment does the panda prefer?
3. What does the Giant panda eat? How much of this does the Giant Panda eat a day?
4. What does the Giant Panda and a cat have in common?
5. Is the Giant Panda a bear or a raccoon?
6. What is the female panda called? Male panda?
7. What insulates the Giant Panda?
8. What species do pandas walk similar to?
9. How long does a panda cub stay with his/her mother?
10. How much does a panda weigh?
Special Thanks to:
A to Z Kids Stuff. "The Giant Panda." 1995. <http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/index.html> (2 March 2003)
World Wildlife Fund. "The Giant Panda." 1995-2001. <http://worldwildlife.org/> (2 March 2003)
Nicole Tamminen: njtamminen@mail.viterbo.edu
