First of all, it should be noted that when talking about which country pandas are found in, you need to remember that we can talk about two animals - a giant panda and a small panda, which differ from each other not only in size.
- Where does the giant panda live?
- Where does the red panda live?
The small (red) panda has almost nothing in common with the well-known black and white bamboo bear and has features of bears, mustelids, raccoons and even dogs at the same time, unlike the big panda, which represents the bear family.
Giant panda: it's still a bear
Today there are six species of bears in the world: brown, white, spectacled, Malayan, sloth bear and giant panda.
Scientists have long debated which family the giant panda belongs to - bears or raccoons, and only relatively recently was it recognized as a bear.
Like bears, giant pandas are massive and slow-moving land animals, averaging 160 cm in length, weighing up to 140 kilograms, and, again like many bears, they are capable of climbing trees. Short paws with sharp and long claws help them in this. On trees, bamboo bears hide from danger or sleep. Young individuals excel especially in the art of tree climbing.
The tail of a bamboo bear reaches 10-12 cm. The entire body of the animal is covered with thick fur. The peculiar black and white coloring still remains unexplained. Some scientists believe that under certain conditions, when light and shade play on winter snow, white and black spots provide good camouflage. However, the panda in his mountain refuge has no dangerous enemies
Other scientists are of the opinion that such coloring makes animals more noticeable to the opposite sex (and pandas’ vision is poor), which is of great importance during the mating season
All scientists agree that the giant panda is a special animal. Under natural conditions, it is found in a small range in the mountain forests of the Chinese province of Sichuan. There are also small local populations of these rare bears in the provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi.
Conservation status
The panda is loved and appreciated not only for its touching appearance, magnificent black and white outfit, peaceful behavior and mysterious life history, but also for its rarity.
Since 1990, giant pandas have been classified as endangered. Fortunately, today their population is growing, and since 2016 they have been listed in the Red Book as “vulnerable” animals. So, if in 2004 there were 1,596 bamboo bears, then by 2014 there were already 1,864 (which is 2 times more than in the late 1970s).
Today, the panda is protected by the Wild Animal Protection Law, according to which the extermination of this animal is punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty. In 1992, a system of reserves was created in China, of which there are now 67, and 67% of all pandas in the world live here.
The inaccessibility and remoteness of the Himalayan refuge for giant pandas, as well as the measures taken by the state to protect them, protect the animals from the bullets of hunters. A bamboo curtain hides them from the eyes of inquisitive zoologists in these inhospitable mountains. This is why no one has yet been able to conduct any systematic observations of bamboo bears in their natural habitat. Most information about their habits and behavior is based on observations in zoos. Since there are very few pandas in captivity, the bamboo bear remains one of the most mysterious animals on our planet, since its study in zoos has so far not helped much in lifting the veil of secrecy.
From the history of pandas
Cute black and white inhabitants of bamboo groves have lived in China since time immemorial. In the ancient Chinese manuscripts “Classics of Seas and Rivers” and in the “Book of Songs,” the panda is described as a creature with an unusual color and from a distance resembling a white fox or bear.
In later Chinese writings, the panda is called the cat bear, the great panda, and the bamboo bear.
The ancient Chinese endowed this good-natured animal with magical properties and considered it a semi-mythical animal. In ancient Chinese medical dictionaries dating back to the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. e. the magical properties of panda skin are mentioned, helping to drive out evil spirits. In the same manuscript, medicinal properties are also attributed to it.
The black and white bear is mentioned not only in manuscripts, it is also the main character of Chinese legends.
Where else does the panda live?
China is the only country in the world where the panda lives, its unique national symbol, along with the Great Wall of China. The black and white panda no longer lives in natural conditions in any country. And in China you can see a bamboo bear in almost only one place. After the largest panda sanctuary, Wolong Panda Sanctuary, in Sichuan province, was badly damaged by an earthquake in 2008, the bulk of the pandas were moved to a panda breeding research center near Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. Over time, this town of Ya'an turned into the world's largest panda zoo.
This center has all the conditions for living and breeding of these animals. Pandas are not kept in enclosures, as is usually the case in zoos, but almost in natural conditions in large areas where special structures made of logs have been built where pandas can have fun. The center has special services: a kind of “kindergarten” for children, a hospital, a laboratory, a science center and a museum. Pandas are fed cut bamboo harvested from the mountains and various nutritional supplements. Today, this center is home to the largest population of pandas in the world.
Of course, you can see a panda live without traveling to China. Since the panda is a very interesting animal, people have long tried to catch them and keep them in zoos, although this was quite a difficult task. In 1959, there were only 7 pandas in zoos around the world, 5 of which were in Beijing Zoo and one each in Moscow Zoo and the Zoological Society of London Zoo. Now they are in many zoos around the world.
The panda icon is a symbol of what
The image of the Giant Panda, which is known throughout the world as a symbol of the environmental movement, appeared on the logo of the World Wide Fund for Nature immediately after its creation in 1961.
The story of choosing the panda as a symbol began when Peter Scott (one of the founders of WWF) came across sketches of a panda made by his friend Gerald Waterson at the London Zoo. Peter was so touched by this good-natured animal that he created a stylized black and white portrait of him.
Since that time, the black and white bear has graced the emblem of the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Social structure and reproduction
Photo: Great white panda
Pandas are known to be very caring, patient and loving parents. Animals tend to form a pair only for the period of marital relations. This period is seasonal and begins with the first days of spring. Each mature female can bear offspring twice a year and give birth to 1-2 cubs. The period when mating can lead to fertilization lasts only three to four days.
The gestation period lasts about five months. Babies are born completely helpless - they cannot see anything, they have practically no hair. Bear cubs are born very small. The weight of one baby barely reaches 150 grams. The cubs are completely unadapted to life in the environment and are entirely dependent on their mother. The mother bear, no matter what she does, remains close to her cub all the time. Newborns feed heavily in the first months of life. The number of feedings reaches 15 times a day. After just two months, the cubs weigh four kilograms, and by six months they gain as much as ten.
At about a month, the cubs begin to see and gradually become covered with fur. When they reach three months of age, they begin to walk. Babies begin to move independently and explore space only at one year of age. They feed on mother's milk for the same amount of time. They need about another 6-8 months to adapt to the environment. After this, they begin an isolated lifestyle.
If a female gives birth to two cubs, most often she chooses the stronger and more viable one and begins to care for and feed him. The fate of the weakest is starvation. When breeding in captivity, people most often separate the rejected cub and periodically swap it with a stronger cub until it becomes independent.
The period of puberty in black and white bears occurs when they reach 5-7 years. The average lifespan of bamboo bears in natural conditions is 15-17 years. In captivity they can live almost twice as long.
List of zoos that have pandas
— Schönbrunn Zoo in Austria . This is the oldest zoo in the world, almost 270 years old. This zoo permanently houses several pandas. It is interesting that in Schönbrunn there lives a female, Yang-Yan, who bears offspring every three years. In 2016, Yang-Yang gave birth to two cubs at once, who were named Fu-Feng and Fu-Pana, who will soon be sent to China.
- Chengdu Research Center in China - created specifically for breeding pandas. This zoo has the best zoologists in the world, specializing specifically in pandas, the best veterinarians and panda care specialists. The Chengdu Nature Reserve is one of the main attractions of the Sichuan province in China, where about 200 pandas are constantly kept.
— Wolong Nature Reserve has long been the largest panda habitat in the world. However, after the earthquake in 2008, many animals were resettled in other places and took root there.
— Beijing Zoo is one of the oldest nature reserves in the world. It specializes in rare animals, including dozens of giant pandas, where they are bred and studied.
— Hong Kong Zoo Ocean Park . Several pandas have lived in this zoo since 1977. Today there are four giant pandas living there. In Ocean Park, a “Panda Village” was built especially for pandas, located under a unique dome, under which the conditions characteristic of the bamboo thickets of the Sichuan highlands, high humidity and low temperature, are maintained.
— The River Safari Zoo in Singapore has kept two giant pandas since 2012: Jia-Jia and Kai-Kai, who also have conditions that reproduce their natural habitat. To provide food, the zoo planted a bamboo grove.
— Atlanta Zoo in the USA is the oldest zoo, founded in 1889. Since 1999, two pandas have lived in this zoo: the male Yang-Yang and the female Lun-Lun. Interestingly, they have different aromatic preferences: Yang-Yang loves the smell of lavender and Tabasco, and Lun-Lun prefers the smell of mint and cinnamon. This couple is surprisingly fertile and has already produced offspring several times. In 2006, their first child was born, in 2008 another cub, in 2000 a girl was born, in 2013 they had two cubs, and in 2016 two more panda girls.
— The Memphis Zoo, Tennessee, USA, has kept two pandas since 2003 - Li-Li and Ya-Ya. A huge enclosure with an area of 12 thousand square meters has been built for them. m, in which other animals from China live.
— The San Diego Zoo , in the state of California, in the USA, has four giant pandas. In order to provide the pandas with fresh food, extensive bamboo plantations of more than 40 species have been planted here.
— The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC contains one panda. The first panda was a kind of gift to US President Richard Nixon during his visit to China in 1972. Currently, the zoo is home to a younger panda, Bao-Bao, born in 2013. Bao-Bao is a very shy person, she loves to sleep, and therefore it is difficult to see her during the day, because she spends most of her time on trees, hiding in their foliage.
— Adelaide Zoo in Australia was founded in 1883 and is home to more than 2,000 different animals. Since 2008, there have been two larger pandas named: Wang-Wang (male) and Funi (female). Unfortunately, despite all the efforts of zoologists, no offspring have yet emerged from them. Upon expiration of the lease, the zoo management hopes to receive two pandas in return.
— Madrid Zoo in Spain is one of the oldest zoos in the world, opened in 1770. This zoo is home to as many as four pandas: the male Bing-Shin, the female Hua-Zhui-Ba and their two cubs, whose names are Po and De-De. It is no secret that the majority of visitors visit the Madrid Zoo only to see pandas. Interestingly, the first two pandas appeared here in 1978, as a gift to the King of Spain from the Chinese government. The animals' names were Kwayan Quan and Shao Shao. 4 years after moving to Spain, they gave birth to a cub, who was named Chui-Lin. This was the first panda cub born through artificial insemination.
- Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, founded in 1913, is the only zoo in England with giant pandas. Now there are two pandas living there: the male Tian-Tian and the female and Yang-Guan, who were rented from China in 2011. To produce food for them, a plantation of several types of bamboo has been specially created.
— Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand is a young zoo, founded only in 1977. But already in 2003, the first two pandas appeared at the zoo: Zhuang-Zhuang and Lin Hui, leased for 10 years. In 2009, they had a girl named Lin Bing, who was sent to China at the age of 2. Now there is another, younger pair of pandas who do not have cubs yet.
— Taipei Zoo in Taiwan has existed for more than 100 years. This zoo houses two pandas: Yuan-Yuan and Tuan-Tuan. An entire three-story pavilion was built for them, where the climatic conditions of mountainous Sichuan are maintained.
— The Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City has existed for almost a hundred years. This zoo today houses two female pandas: Shuan Shuan and Xin Xin. Chapultepec became the first zoo outside of China to breed pandas. The zoo's pandas belong to Mexico as a gift before the law was passed.
— The Ueno Zoo in Tokyo has existed since 1882 and contains two pandas leased from China, although previously there lived a panda owned by Japan as a gift from China
— The Kobe Oji Zoo in the Japanese city of Kobe has kept two pandas on lease since 2000.
— The Beauval Zoo in France has owned two adult pandas since 2012: the male Yuan-Tzu and the female Huan-Huan. In 2022, the couple gave birth to a cub named Yuan-Men. The first lady of France, Brigitte Macron, is the godmother of the baby panda.
— Berlin Zoo is the only zoo in Germany that has had a panda in its collection for quite a long time. However, she died in 2012. But in 2022, a new pair was brought to the zoo from China: seven-year-old male Jiao Qing and three-year-old female Meng-Meng. The first panda demonstration was attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
— The Paris Daisa Zoo in Belgium has been exhibiting two giant pandas since 2014: the male Hao Hao and the female Xinghui. The lease period for these pandas is as much as 15 years.
These are not all zoos that keep giant pandas, as many countries want to have this wonderful animal in their zoos. At the same time, China has a huge benefit, because in addition to the rent, foreign zoos bear all the costs of keeping pandas, and the Chinese can only count the profits and control the conditions of their maintenance.
Social structure and reproduction
Photo: Red panda cub
Red pandas are considered sexually mature when they are approximately one and a half years old. The mating season for these interesting animals begins in January. This period is accompanied by interesting flirtations and courtship. Males leave marks everywhere, and females signal that they are ready for fertilization.
The active phase in females lasts only a day, so these animals have absolutely no time for long-term courtship. Despite the fact that under normal conditions the panda is very timid and unsociable, during the mating season she feels great in the company of her suitor. Usually, at this time, pandas make all sorts of sounds that attract individuals of the opposite sex: they whistle, chirp, hiss, arching their backs in an interesting way.
The pregnancy period lasts from 114 to 145 days, but the embryos do not begin to develop immediately and continue for 50 days. Expectant mothers themselves begin preparing for the birth of their offspring; the male leaves immediately after the mating games. Females search for a suitable hollow, lining it with leaves, branches and grass. Usually from 1 to 4 babies are born, weighing about 100 grams, see nothing and are completely helpless. The fur of the babies is light gray.
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The cubs experience a rather slow period of development. Only on the 21st day do they begin to see clearly, and at the age of three months they leave their home for the first time, making night forays. Mother panda constantly licks them, thereby putting her marks on them. For the first week of her life, she does not leave their side, then she goes in search of food, coming only to feed the children. The red panda feeds milk to babies up to five months, then begins to wean them off it.
The cubs have a very strong attachment to their mother, but do not know their father at all. They live with their mother until approximately one year of age, then they leave her, and she begins preparing for the next mating, becoming very irritable during this period.
Panda cub
To give birth to cubs, the female builds a den. Choosing for this purpose highland forests on steep slopes that provide shelter in the bamboo thickets. The giant panda's first breeding season begins between the ages of 4 and 8 years. The mating season lasts from March to May, with females becoming more vocal. The rest of the time, pandas lead a solitary lifestyle.
A panda's pregnancy lasts from 90 to 160 days, with an average of about 130 days. Childbirth takes place in a den and 1-2 cubs are born.
A panda cub weighs 100-130 g, with a body length of 15-17 cm. The body of a newborn cub is covered with a thin layer of fur, under which pink skin with black spots is visible.
Panda cubs are born blind and helpless. It is difficult to recognize the future owner of the bamboo forests in a small and defenseless creature. But panda bear cubs grow quickly. Panda cubs' eyes open at 3 weeks of age. Breastfeeding continues for about 46 weeks.
Panda cubs make loud noises so that their mother hears them and does not crush them. Females often give birth to twins. But, unfortunately, the mother chooses to raise one, stronger baby. The second dies unattended. Pandas breed once every 2 years. Therefore, the growth of panda numbers is very slow.
Reproduction of pandas in captivity is extremely rare. But when two panda bear cubs are born in zoos, only one baby is left near the female. And the second one is taken away and replaced with the first one every few days. In this clever way, it is possible to feed both babies with nutritious mother's milk.
The female panda devotes herself entirely to her little cub, surrounding him with warmth and care. The mother feeds the cub up to 14 times a day and nurses it, rocking it in her large paws.
Mothers often play with their grown cubs. Cubs stay with their mothers for one and a half to three years.
The panda is considered a very rare animal and is listed in the Red Book with the status of “vulnerable species.” Due to the small population and low birth rate, today there are just over 2 thousand individuals living in the wild.
The giant panda is a symbol of China and is protected by the state. There is a death penalty for killing an animal in China.
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What does a giant panda eat?
Photo: Giant panda bear
The bear acquired its second name “bamboo bear” due to the fact that its food source is bamboo. It makes up 99% of a bear's diet. To get enough, one adult requires a huge amount of bamboo leaves and shoots - approximately 30-40 kilograms, depending on weight.
Due to the fact that the giant panda is a predator, it can feed on insect larvae, small bugs, worms, and bird eggs. This food fulfills the need for protein. In addition to reeds and protein foods, animals happily eat young shoots and succulent leaves of other types of vegetation. Giant pandas eat saffron bulbs and iris.
When kept in artificial conditions, the panda is treated to sweets and lump sugar. In addition to reed food, in captivity it eats apples, carrots, liquid cereal porridges, and other foods. Employees of national parks and zoos where pandas live in captivity note that the animal is completely unpretentious in food and eats almost everything that is offered to it.
Under natural conditions, animals can eat food both in trees and on the ground. They use strong, powerful teeth to bite and grab reed branches. The panda collects long, tough reed branches and leaves and holds them in his forelimbs. The sixth finger provides her with great help in this. If you observe from the outside, you will notice that, despite the external awkwardness, bulkiness and clumsiness, the animals very dexterously, skillfully and quickly use their limbs and handle thick, long reeds.
Bamboo bears consume little liquid. The body's need for water is replenished with young, juicy reed shoots and green leaves, which are almost half water. If they come across a body of water on their way, they will happily drink to their heart's content.
Panda animal. Panda lifestyle and habitat
There is probably no animal that could easily win the hearts of many people so quickly. Soft in appearance, characterized by clumsiness and associated with comfort, the panda animal has long misled many scientists.
In their appearance, they are very reminiscent of bears, the only difference between them is the structure of their teeth and the presence of a rather long tail. Until recently, this animal was considered a large raccoon.
But simple peasants from China, who had their eye on pandas for a long time, still managed to convince the world that they were a kind of bear. They really look like bear cubs with a black and white color, which is very difficult to confuse with someone else.
A white head with black circles around the eyes, black sleeves and collar, black ears and a black tail play the role of camouflage, and maybe even protection. Despite the massiveness of the body, the panda's limbs are small.
This is the most secretive animal that leads a reclusive lifestyle, so it has been studied least of all, and no one can say for sure which panda animal it is Reproduction in captivity is rare. Now this animal is listed in the Red Book. In China, the panda is a national treasure.
Lifestyle, behavior
The giant panda is highly secretive. She is in no hurry to show herself to people, preferring a solitary lifestyle in the wild. For a very long time she managed not to tell anything about herself.
And the person knew little about her. The gaps began to be filled when people became seriously concerned about the almost extinct species of bear and began to create protective reserves for it. Following the habits of the bamboo bear, now in his field of vision, the man learned a lot of interesting things about him.
The giant panda is sedate and noble. He behaves importantly, even arrogantly, and walks leisurely. Behind this calm grandeur lies a prudent and peaceful disposition.
But even a panda's love of peace has its limits. And no one should test their patience - neither their relatives nor humans.
The giant panda is lazy. It seems that the slowness of the giant panda borders on laziness. There is a joke about this - they say that the panda is lazy to such an extent that it is too lazy to even reproduce. In fact, the panda has a strict energy reserve due to its low-calorie plant diet.
To get enough food, a panda has to eat almost constantly - 10-12 hours a day. The rest of the time she sleeps. Moreover, the panda is active at dawn and at night, and during the day he sleeps, stretching out somewhere in the shade.
All the energy that the giant panda gets from food is spent on its own production. It has been noticed that in captivity, where the bamboo bear does not have problems with food, it behaves more active and playful. Can stand on its head, somersault, climb grates and ladders.
Giant pandas are loners. The exception is the breeding season, which is very short and occurs once every two years. The rest of the time, pandas protect their privacy, protecting their habitat from parishioners - other bamboo bears.
Scientists believe that this behavior is caused by the fact that two pandas cannot feed themselves in one area. Giant pandas are not builders, they do not make permanent burrows, preferring natural shelters - caves, trees. Pandas can swim, but they don’t like water - they hide from the rain, don’t go into the river unless necessary, and refuse to swim in the pool. But at the same time, giant pandas are very clean animals.
Giant pandas are not talkative. It is rare to hear their voice. Sometimes they make a sound similar to bleating.
And there is nothing to indicate that in an excited state this bear is capable of deafening “vocals.” He can “blow” so much that the glass in the windows shakes. He can also moo like a cow and even squeal.
Pandas are not hostile. They treat people without any aggression, quickly remember their name and are well tamed at a young age.
Panda behavior
Pandas lead a very secretive lifestyle. They keep themselves mostly alone, except during breeding seasons and raising offspring. Each panda has its own territory and defends it.
Pandas are terrestrial animals, but are also good climbers and are capable of swimming. In cold weather, the panda is passive. Pandas do not hibernate in winter, unlike other bears.
In isolated cases, a panda bear can attack a person. Pandas only show aggression if they are teased or there is a threat to their offspring. Thanks to the panda's increased caution and secretive lifestyle, it is very rare for a person to encounter one in the wild.
The giant panda's paws are well adapted and help them climb high into trees. A panda climbs a tree for different purposes. To explore the surroundings, play, relax and lie on the branches.
The animal is excellent at climbing trees and getting into even the most inaccessible places. The panda seems clumsy, but it's not. The animal's joints are very flexible and allow it to perform various gymnastic tricks.
Pandas are usually silent animals, preferring silence and are very cautious. But they can make unusual sounds during mating season and during social interactions. The lifespan of a giant panda in nature is on average 16-20 years.
Origin of the species and description
Photo: Giant panda
The giant panda is a carnivorous mammal. Represents the bear family, allocated to the genus and species of the giant panda.
To date, the origin and evolution of the amazing black and white bear has not been fully studied. The first mentions of this animal, which researchers were able to discover in the western part of the People's Republic of China, indicate their existence approximately 2,750 years ago. Some sources mention that the ancient khan of those distant times had a luxurious garden in which a huge bamboo bear lived. Subsequently, genetic testing will help establish that animals or their ancestors existed on earth at least 2 million years ago.
In 1869, the French explorer and missionary Armand David traveled to the territory of the People's Republic of China. He studied his religion, as well as at the same time interesting and unusual representatives of the animal world. In one of the provincial villages of Sichuan, he discovered a black and white skin on a fence. He purchased the skin from local residents after they said it belonged to an animal that lives in the area called bei shung.
Video: Giant Panda
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VCnKnyMWR3Y
Translated from the local dialect, the name of the animal meant “white mountain bear.” The researcher transported the purchased animal skin to his homeland, and he decided to start searching for it. He found local hunters who agreed to sell him an animal killed during a hunt. After that, Arman David treated him the way the hunters had trained him and transported him to his homeland. Having received the body of an unprecedented beast and its skeleton, scientists began to study its origin and create a theory of evolution.
For a long time, pandas were considered relatives of bears and raccoons. Moreover, scientists assumed that they share no less common features with raccoons than with bears, and perhaps even more. However, recent genetic studies have found that they have much more in common with bears than with raccoons.
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To date, there is no clear theory of the evolution of the giant panda. Many consider them to be the ancestors of modern bears, or the followers of huge raccoons, or martens. However, many zoologists believe that this amazing animal does not belong to any of the currently existing animal species.
When will pandas be at the Moscow Zoo?
In 2022, the management of the Moscow Zoo, together with the Beijing Zoo, drew up a plan for the construction of the China pavilion, which will display Red Book animals, including pandas. However, construction has been delayed, but negotiations continue and let’s hope that they will be completed successfully and the Moscow Zoo will once again be able to admire these funny black and white bears.
Nowadays, when civilization is spreading to the most secluded corners of our planet, there are more and more animals, the number of which is decreasing before our eyes. Therefore, it is the duty of every person to protect and protect nature. Only the fight against poaching and reducing deforestation to the minimum possible will help preserve the population of giant pandas.
Beautiful legend
The charming black and white bear cub has earned fame and love all over the world. There is an ancient legend in China that explains the panda's coloring.
According to this legend, once upon a time, a family of shepherds settled on the slopes of the mountains. Every day, the shepherds took a flock of sheep to the pasture, where a little panda came to play with them. But one day a leopard attacked the sheep. The sheep ran away, but the little bear cub could not run fast and did not have time to hide. And he could not escape death. But the young shepherdess took a stick and drove the leopard away from the little bear cub, and she herself died from the claws of the terrible beast.
Having learned about this, the pandas began to cry and sprinkled themselves with ashes as a sign of mourning for the brave girl. Wiping away tears, they left black spots on their snow-white skin
Since then, the panda skin has been a mourning for the dead girl.
Characteristics of a panda
The anatomy of pandas is unique, as it contains characteristics of both the bear and raccoon families. The classification of these animals was accompanied by controversy among scientists. After much research, they determined that giant pandas are bears.
Is a panda a raccoon or a bear?
Externally, a panda looks like a bear. Unlike ordinary bears, it has a different paw structure and a tail about 12 cm long. Pandas have a unique color - the main color of the fur is white, with black ears, legs and shoulders, and black spots near the eyes, creating the effect of glasses. All this combined with a cute face makes the panda look like a big teddy bear.
The structure of the panda's paw is “grasping”. This helps animals climb high into trees. They do this for different purposes - in search of food, to survey the surroundings, just to play or relax, lying on the branches.
Panda eats
These animals live in dense bamboo thickets, which serve them as food and shelter. Young bamboo stems and leaves are the main food of pandas. They hold the bamboo stem in their paw using the so-called “sixth finger,” which is opposed to the others. In fact, it is not a finger, it is a growth on one of the bones of the paw. With its help, pandas can hold objects in their paws, successfully climb trees, grab branches and perform other actions that are inaccessible to ordinary bears.
The menu of these animals consists almost 100% of bamboo. Leaves and young shoots are eaten, but not of all types of bamboo, but only 10-15 out of 300 growing in China. A panda can eat 14 hours a day, and during this time eats about 20 kilograms of food.
Relationship between people and animals
These are extremely peaceful animals; they never attack humans. In ancient books, the panda is called a symbol of peace, since it does not kill living creatures. But there are very few of them left in the world, and the reason for this is man. People, in pursuit of profit, exterminated these charming bears for the sake of valuable skins, cut down bamboo forests, thereby depriving not only pandas of food and housing, but also other animals.
Panda on the symbol of the WWT organization
Nowadays people are thinking about this problem. China has introduced the death penalty for killing or harming pandas. The habitats of pandas have been declared protected areas, and zoos around the world preserve and increase the number of these animals.
It’s just a pity that people, for the sake of profit, without thinking, disturb the natural balance, only to then restore it with great difficulty and expense.
What does a panda look like?
The panda looks the same as most bears. She has a rather massive, rounded body with short legs. A large head with a slightly elongated muzzle and rounded ears on the top of the head. The size of the giant panda is impressive: weight can reach 160 kg, and body length can be up to one and a half meters.
The panda's entire body is covered with dense, thick, two-color fur. Usually the body and head are white, the paws, ears and area around the eyes are black. In adult pandas, sometimes the white color has a yellowish tint. The panda has a clearly visible tail, about 15 in length. They have sharp claws on their hind legs, and a sixth toe on their front legs, in addition to the five main ones, which developed due to the need to hold on to bamboo. The giant panda has 40 teeth. They have a flat and wide shape, on which ridges appear over time to help grind hard food, which is the rather hard bamboo plant.
Features of character and lifestyle
Photo: Spectacled bear animal
Spectacled bears prefer a solitary existence, acquiring a pair only during the mating season. Although sometimes in places of great abundance of various foods several bears can coexist in the same territory. However, usually predators each live in their own area, which they carefully mark. The spectacled bear is quite good-natured and will not attack or incite conflict over trifles. Even if someone stranger came to his territory, he would limit himself to only a growling warning to see off the uninvited guest.
These bears attack only in extreme cases, when there is no other choice. They usually avoid unwanted encounters (for example, with a person) by climbing tall trees. There, high in the crown (about 30 meters in height), bears build themselves something like a platform, where they rest and store their food supplies. Mother bears can be aggressive and are ready to do anything to protect their clumsy offspring.
If there is enough food in the bear's territory, then the spectacled predator does not move further than half a kilometer from its nest. During periods of hunger, bears can travel about six kilometers in a day in search of food. In communication between bear relatives, smells play a large role, and sounds fade into the background. Most often, only the mother bear communicates with the cubs using some sound signals.
So, the spectacled bear is a fairly peaceful animal, not aggressive and not prone to conflicts. The predator's disposition is quiet and calm; the bear avoids people, choosing remote and secluded areas for its life.
Reproduction and lifespan
After the mating season, one or two small, blind and completely helpless panda cubs are born. Only after a month do their eyes open and the animal can see.
21 days after its birth, the baby gradually acquires a coat of fur, and finally its color becomes very similar to its relatives. Its weight is very tiny - on average 180 grams.
Closer to two months, the baby already weighs 4 kilograms, while the weight of an adult animal ranges from 17 to 160 kg. Literally before giving birth, the female panda begins to seriously engage in the construction of a hollow.
Of the two babies, most often one survives and remains with its mother for a year, due to its helplessness. To our great joy, the red panda animal reproduces well in captivity and lives approximately 25-30 years.
Pictured is a panda
The specific lifespan of a panda in the wild is unknown. Scientists say that it does not exceed the life expectancy of a panda in captivity and is estimated at approximately 20 years.
The giant panda is an interesting and unusual animal, which has its own character and prudence. The panda is very sedate and noble. Therefore, for the Chinese it is a sacred symbol of the country.
Looking at her, one gets the impression that she knows all the secrets of the world, the panda behaves so arrogantly, calmly and with dignity. This animal attracts many people with its beauty and originality. You can admire it endlessly and with tenderness.
The panda is currently on the verge of extinction. People need to make every effort to create conditions so that this does not happen. We cannot allow this kind and intelligent animal to disappear from the face of the earth.
They need to live in their environment and reproduce without outside interference. Therefore, it is necessary to specifically address the issue of the condition of bamboo forests, otherwise it may be too late.
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What does a grizzly bear eat?
Photo: Animal grizzly bear
Due to repeated attacks on people and livestock, the grizzly bear has a reputation as a cruel and merciless killer. However, this is not entirely true, and this type of predator objectively belongs to the category of omnivores. In ordinary life, when his aggressive behavior is not provoked by anything, the bear gives preference to plant foods: berries, roots, shoots and fruits of plants. In addition, these powerful animals happily feast on bird eggs, reptiles and their future offspring, frogs and insects.
For the coastal variety of grizzly bears, fish is a significant part of the daily diet. When the time comes for spawning, and the prey itself jumps out of the water, the tenacious paws of the predator with dexterity pick it up right on the fly.
As for large animals, most likely the grizzly will choose as prey an old and sick individual sika deer, ram, goat, or chamois, as well as inexperienced young animals of other forest inhabitants. According to popular belief, bears are great connoisseurs of honey. This is true, only this delicacy is available mostly to bear cubs, due to their small size and ability to climb trees.
The teeth of a gray bear have a specific shape and are intended for various types of food - both plant and animal. An adult needs to consume about 20 thousand kilocalories per day. Such an urgent need for food forces grizzlies to almost constantly be in a state of search for food, especially before hibernation.
Nutrition
The panda spends more than 13 hours a day searching for food. This animal feeds mainly on young bamboo shoots, but if they are not available, it does not refuse old bamboo stems. The average panda can eat about 25 kg of bamboo per day.
Thanks to her strong and powerful teeth, she can handle tough bamboo. This is not a very high-calorie food product, so the panda has to chew it almost constantly. For a long time everyone believed that bamboo was the only food for this animal.
But later they began to notice bones in the stomachs of dead pandas. It was concluded that the panda is a predator; sometimes it can even feed on carrion. There are times when specific problems arise with food, the animal eats vines, bark, leaves, tree stems, as well as some plant roots. The animal world of the panda is given to few people to understand. They do not allow anyone into their small little world, hide it from prying eyes and lead a reclusive life.
Interesting Facts
It turns out that for the first time, when scientists conducted research on a large species of these animals, they could not understand for a long time who the panda was and what kind of animal it was. A little later they came to the conclusion that she was a raccoon, but only of enormous size.
After some time, other experts refuted this opinion, since with the help of a genetic test it was possible to establish that this species of animal is more related to bears. As for red pandas, many scientists generally recorded them as a marten-like species, which consists of the mustelidae family, as well as raccoons and skunks.
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Although, according to most researchers, these two subspecies belong to different classes, they still have a certain similarity with each other. For example, both pandas have a sixth "pseudo-toe" located on their front paws. It is significantly larger than the other five.
Panda subspecies
There are two subspecies of giant pandas:
- melanoleuca;
- qinlingensis.
The first one is the most common. If you have seen photographs of a panda animal, then in most cases it was this particular bear.
Melanoleuca is a common black and white bamboo bear. But qinlingensis is already a rare and endangered species. Its characteristic feature is its color and size: this bear is smaller than its brother, and instead of black spots, it has dark brown ones.
Natural enemies of anteaters
Photo: Anteater
If in the wild conditions such large predators as pumas and jaguars act as enemies for giant and four-toed anteaters, then for dwarf representatives of the anteater family there are much more dangers; they can even be threatened by large birds and boa constrictors.
The large anteater's main weapon is its huge ten-centimeter claws, with which it can tear apart an enemy like sharp hook knives. During a fight, the animal stands on its hind legs and fights its enemy with its front legs; these strong limbs can even crush the enemy. Often, predators, seeing such courage and power, leave and do not contact the large anteater, because they consider it a dangerous and strong opponent, capable of inflicting serious wounds.
Tree baby anteaters also bravely defend themselves, despite their dwarf size. They also stand in a stance on their hind legs, and keep their front claws ready in front of them to strike the enemy.
The four-toed anteater, along with the main defense mechanisms, also uses a special odorous secretion, which is secreted by its anal glands, scaring away enemies with an unpleasant odor.
The cutest and kindest predator: what the world knows about pandas
Pandas are captivating the attention of adults and children around the world. Instagram is full of them, Internet users adore them. Why are pandas so cute and what is known about them?
Photo, video: www.globallookpress.com / TPG
The giant panda, also known as the bamboo bear, is one of the most popular animals in the world. Especially for 5-tv.ru, Yandex provided statistics on what details about the life of the cutest bears Internet users are interested in.
Where do pandas live?
Pandas live in the Sichuan province, located in China. Some populations live in the Gansu and Shaanxi regions. Due to the active development of territories for industrial purposes, pandas went to hard-to-reach places in the mountains, where human hands could not reach them. Pandas choose huge bamboo forests for their habitat.
Another species of panda, the red panda, is more common and is found in China, Bhutan and Myanmar. Unfortunately, the range of red pandas has been reduced due to hunting: the goal is to extract fur and sell it at a high price to other countries. Red pandas are also caught for captivity, which negatively affects their well-being.
Instagram @moscow_zoo_official, N. May
What do pandas eat?
The main source of food for pandas is bamboo. It is known that an adult panda eats about 30 kilograms of bamboo per day! Even the stomach of pandas is adapted to this type of food - dangerous processes do not scratch their esophagus thanks to a thick layer of elastic mucous tissue. In zoos, pandas are fed special compressed biscuits made from bamboo fibers.
At the same time, pandas belong to the order of carnivores and, on occasion, eat the eggs of small birds, animals and carrion. This is their main source of protein.
Where are the pandas at the Moscow Zoo?
Both types of pandas can be seen in the pavilions of the Moscow Zoo. An entire arena called “Fauna of China” was built for them. Interestingly, the Chinese government carefully monitors pandas. That is why, after long negotiations, the Moscow Zoo received two pandas, Ruyi and Dindin, for use for 15 years for study and research. Now pandas live in spacious enclosures with dens and high humidity.
Moscowzoo.ru
There are no pandas in the Leningrad Zoo. 5-tv.ru explained that it is not yet possible to acquire these cuties, since pandas are purchased under a lease agreement. The zoo is subject to high demands from China, and one of the conditions is the construction of a winter-summer pavilion, which must be approved by members of the PRC Panda Protection Representative Office. Another condition is the cost of rent, which is not yet within the budget of the Leningrad Zoo. The enclosure for red pandas is under renovation, so the red panda will not be able to live there yet. The zoo would like to acquire many animals, but the giant panda will not appear in the zoo any time soon.
How long do pandas live?
In the wild, pandas have a lifespan of 20 years. Basy's panda was recognized as the oldest panda. She became the inspiration for the mascot of the first Asian Games in 1990 and died at the age of 37 in 2022. The farewell ceremony for Basy was broadcast live on Chinese State Television.
What family does the panda belong to?
The family to which the panda belongs is a big question for researchers. The problem is that she looks like a bear and a raccoon at the same time. Genetic testing showed that the panda belongs to the bear family. The red panda is similar to a raccoon, but scientists classify it as a member of the panda family. By the way, the red panda is the only representative of this family.
How many pandas are left in the world?
The panda is a very rare animal that is in danger of extinction. In 2022, the State Forestry and Steppe Administration of the People's Republic of China stated that there were 548 individuals living in captivity. The number of pandas in the wild reached 1,864 individuals by 2015, but this number is increasing every year.
The Chinese government is committed to protecting pandas and has developed a whole procedure for this. Giant pandas were declared a national treasure of the People's Republic of China, and after that they were decided not to be given as a gift for diplomatic purposes, but to be leased for 15 years. At the same time, there is a separate clause in the agreement that is dedicated to a panda cub born in captivity - in this case, only the PRC has all rights to it. Also, the representative office for the protection of pandas of China monitors the living conditions of pandas and their safety. In 2003, a program was established in China to adapt giant pandas to life in the wild. Within its framework, pandas born in captivity are released into the wild in order to increase the population.
How much does a live panda cost in Russia?
The cost of renting a live panda in Russia is approximately 65 million rubles per year. 130 million were allocated for Ruyi and Dindin at the Moscow Zoo. Also on the government procurement website it is indicated that the cost of purchasing bamboo is 33 million rubles.
The cutest and kindest predator: what the world knows about pandas
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Where does it live and what does it eat?
The free habitats of the giant panda are located in the mountains of Southern and Central China, at an altitude of approximately 2000-3500 meters, because bamboo grows there - what pandas eat most often. In general, the habitat area of these animals is approximately 30 thousand kilometers. In forests, each individual marks some trees with special scent glands, thereby defining its own territory. Giant pandas love privacy, but sometimes their territories overlap. These are nocturnal animals; during the day they mostly rest.
Giant pandas feed mainly on bamboo stems and shoots, although they will not refuse meat food, as well as mushrooms, roots, tubers, and bark; sometimes they enjoy honey. Almost the entire waking time, which is 15-16 hours, the panda absorbs food.
The breeding season for pandas is spring, from March to May. There are 4-5 times more males than females, so for every female there are several males. Pregnancy lasts 100-150 days, after this period the panda gives birth to one or two cubs. Often the female feeds only one of them, because care requires a lot of effort from her. The rest of the panda cubs often die. The cubs are born blind and tiny. Their size is only 1 thousandth the size of the mother. Like all mammals, they are nursed by their mother for a period of one and a half to three years.
For most of the first three weeks, the female holds the newborn in her arms and feeds it. Panda cubs grow quickly and begin to walk at the age of three months. After another two months, they switch to eating bamboo. After a year and a half, the pandas grow up and begin, so to speak, an independent life. Sexual maturity is reached at 4-5 years.
At the moment, the protection of pandas is one of the important problems. In a relatively short time, the giant panda population has declined sharply. This happened, first of all, as a result of deforestation - their habitat, as well as due to the hunting of these animals. Since the second half of the twentieth century, the Chinese government has taken decisive measures to protect pandas; over half a century, more than 30 reserves have been created. Despite the dire forecasts, there is a chance that the panda population will continue.
Panda lifestyle
Pandas spend most of their lives eating bamboo. Since this is not a very nutritious food, the panda is forced to chew bamboo leaves and stems for 12-15 hours a day. These are crepuscular animals; during the day they mostly rest or simply sleep.
Giant pandas are able to stand on their hind legs, but they always move with the help of four limbs; They are not able to run fast and long at the same time, as they get tired quickly. Being excellent steeplejacks, they are often located on the lower branches in order to hide from danger or relax. The habits of pandas are clumsy and somewhat slow.
Features of reproduction
The mating season for pandas lasts only 36 hours. If during this time the male manages to find a female to mate with, after a while the female gives birth to one or two small and blind cubs. After 30 days, they gradually begin to see the world around them.
The body weight of a newborn baby is no more than two hundred grams. At the same time, he is completely unadapted to life, absolutely helpless.
After two months, the body weight of a panda cub reaches almost four kilograms, and the body weight of an adult varies from 20 to 150 kilograms. Before giving birth to children, the expectant mother begins to actively build a home for them. If two babies are born, usually only one of them survives.
The mother continues to care for the child throughout the year, since the baby is completely helpless. In captivity, the lifespan of animals is about 30 years. Given favorable conditions, they reproduce successfully, even in captivity.
How long these cute bears live in nature has not yet been determined. According to scientists, the average life expectancy in its natural habitat is also about 20 years.
The animal is noble, even slightly arrogant. It attracts many and evokes emotion. These cute bears are a species whose population is currently in significant decline.
Therefore, people themselves must make as much effort as possible to preserve these animals, create conditions for them in which they can live normally. To do this, it is necessary to prevent the total deforestation of bamboo forests.
Pandas in Russia
There are always no pandas in Russian zoos, but they appear there periodically. So in 1957, by agreement of the Soviet and Chinese parties, an adult male panda named Pin-Pin was brought to the Moscow Zoo. A special house was built for him, equipped in accordance with the then ideas of maximum comfort. Pin-Pin felt fine. However, Pin Pin did not live long; in 1961, at the age of 6, he died, probably due to improper living conditions and feeding; he moved little and ate a lot. By the spring of 1960, his weight reached 185 kilograms.
In 1959, another panda named An-An was brought to the Moscow Zoo, which turned out to be a male. An-An lived for 15 years. And although in addition to bamboo he was fed porridge, fruits, vegetables, and given birch, willow and linden brooms, he was quite accustomed to this food. It weighed more than 150 kg and was 1.5 meters long.
At the Moscow Zoo, attempts were made to obtain panda offspring in captivity, since the Chinese did not succeed. In 1966, a female named Chi-Chi was brought from England to the Moscow Zoo as an An-Anya couple, with the hope of getting offspring from them. But the pandas did not find a common language and even fought among themselves, like real bears. So the idea of getting offspring from them failed.
In 2001, the Beijing Days were held in Moscow, and at this time a 4-year-old male panda, Ben-Ben, and a nine-year-old female, Wen-Wen, were brought to the Moscow Zoo. A special room was equipped for them, and fresh bamboo was delivered by plane from Adler. Ben-Ben and Wen-Wen stayed at the Moscow Zoo for only two months. Due to people wanting to see pandas at this time, the zoo had twice as many visitors as usual, and on Sundays it was impossible to get there at all.
In which country do giant pandas live?
If he talks about the habitat of the bamboo bear, then the only country for the panda is China. These animals do not live in any other country in the world, with the exception of individuals in zoos. This animal is extremely small in number and currently there are only about one and a half thousand individuals left. For this reason, the Chinese government makes great efforts to maintain their numbers and even transfers pandas to foreign zoos only for temporary use.
Pandas live in the mountainous terrain of the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau, located in west-central and southwest China. Most of their range is in Sichuan province. There are also small local populations of giant pandas in the provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi. Their habitat became so small as a result of the active development of land for agricultural needs. The resulting destruction of forests, as well as the proximity of hostile humans, led to the fact that giant pandas survived only in inaccessible mountainous areas, although before that they could be found in many low-lying areas of China.
The mountainous areas where pandas live are rain-rich bamboo forests, rising 1200-3100 meters above sea level. For a pair of adult pandas to exist normally, they need approximately three thousand hectares of bamboo forest.
To preserve the environment where pandas live, the country (China) passed a law in 1998 that stopped deforestation. Now, in order to preserve the bamboo bear population, about fifty nature reserves have been organized in China, the total area of which exceeds 1 million hectares. True, significant problems for pandas are created by the fact that their habitat is not monolithic and is divided by human economic activity into separate areas. As a result, animals often face a lack of food if it suddenly turns out that bamboo has not grown well in some area of the territory.
In an effort to protect the giant panda's habitat, the government is simultaneously saving entire ecosystems from destruction. For example, protecting the area where pandas live has led to significant improvements in water quality at the source of China's most important river (the Yangtze). In addition, ecotourism is a source of income for poor peasants living in the mountains.
Where can you see a panda?
It is quite natural that you can see a live giant panda in China, at the Beijing Zoo and several others. Particularly interesting will be a visit to the panda breeding center in Changdu. However, besides China, there are pandas in large zoos in Europe and America. True, pandas are not permanent residents of these zoos, but temporary residents.
The fact is that China leases its pandas for a period of 10 years. The cost of renting one panda is $10 million a year, and the zoo must prove that it is able to provide the necessary conditions for their maintenance. When the lease expires, the pandas are returned back to China. Cubs born in captivity are also transferred to their ancestral homeland. The Chinese receive more than a billion dollars a year for rent.
Lesser or fire panda
Not everyone knows which family the cute animal the red panda belongs to. So, the dwarf red panda belongs to the panda family from the order of carnivores, and is slightly larger in size than an ordinary cat. The size of its elongated body does not exceed 65 cm, and its weight is from 3.7 to 6.2 kg. The red panda has a fairly wide head with small round ears and a pointed cute muzzle, strong short limbs with half-extended claws, facilitating easy climbing of trees.
The dwarf panda has red fur on the upper parts of the coat and dark brown or black underneath, as well as a white face, black limbs and transverse white rings on the elongated bushy tail.
The peculiar pattern around the eyes of a red panda is similar to a mask, like that of raccoons. It is unique in all individuals and acts as a camouflage, because the red panda spends most of its time on tree branches that are densely covered with thickets of mosses and lichens.
The red panda is nocturnal and thrives at dusk. During daylight hours, she prefers to sleep, hidden in a hollow tree, and loves to curl up in a ball, covering her head with her gorgeous tail. The small red panda moves rather slowly and clumsily on the surface of the earth, but like the big panda, it deftly copes with climbing trees and immediately hides there when danger arises.
There are two subspecies of the red panda - the Staiana red panda and the western red panda. The Staiana panda is a larger animal and darker in color compared to the Western red panda.
A little panda lives about 8-10 years in the wild.
The female fiery red panda breeds her offspring in a pre-arranged nest located in a hollow tree. She is capable of giving birth to 1 to 4 babies, but usually only 1 or 2 of them survive. The red red panda also has low fertility. Little red panda babies grow quite slowly, being near their mother for a long time. The male occasionally takes part in raising his own offspring.
Where does the panda live?
Many people know that this animal is associated with China, but are there other areas where the panda lives? I wonder what continent they are located on? So, the giant panda lives in the mountainous parts of central China, in the provinces of Sichuan and Tibet. These territorial possessions in the form of mountain forests are filled with numerous bamboo thickets. Animals prefer an isolated way of existence, and spend most of their time quietly moving around in order to look for food, systematically chewing it.
Having found out where the giant panda lives, let's move on to the question of where does the fire panda live? So, the distribution zone of the red panda is wider than that of the big panda. In addition to China, the red panda lives in India, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal. The habitat of the red panda subspecies is divided. The Western red panda lives in Nepal and Bhutan, while Staiana lives in southern China and northern Myanmar.
Therefore, the region where large and small pandas live can be called Asia east of the Himalayas. First of all, this is expressed by the fact that these regional territories are filled with numerous groves of bamboo, which is the main source of food for animals.
What does a panda eat?
It has been established that the big and small red panda lives on the Eurasian mainland. Now we need to find out what does a panda eat? The basis of the giant panda's nutritional diet is bamboo, and all its parts, including both succulent shoots and roots of the plant.
Oddly enough, having used this particular plant as food for its entire existence on Earth, the animal’s digestive system is not very well able to assimilate it, in contrast to the better digestion of animal food. But eating meat is quite rare for pandas. Occasionally they can eat small mammals and birds, fish, eggs, and other types of plants. But such an addition to food cannot completely replace the absorption of bamboo. Therefore, if the plant dies, the animal risks dying of starvation.
We have already found out what the panda mainly eats. Now you need to find out how much food makes up her daily diet? Due to its rather large size, large pandas require a lot of food. Considering how much a panda typically weighs, his daily serving of bamboo could include approximately 30 kg of the plant. This can be compared with the consumption of a person weighing about 75 kg of fresh grass within 15 kg per day. The motivation for such overeating is the poor absorption of bamboo by the animal’s stomach.
Now let’s look at how much food the red panda eats every day. She doesn’t have a lot of weight, so her daily diet dose is smaller. But, if we take the proportional ratio of the size of the red panda to the amount of plant it eats, it turns out that it feeds quite densely, exceeding the saturation capacity of its giant namesake. In total, if there is an abundance of bamboo, the red panda is able to consume over 4 kg of young succulent shoots of the plant, as well as about 1.5 kg of its fresh leaves per day.
Pregnancy in pandas
The panda is not an animal prone to lively mating games; they have a very low level of fertility. In the spring season, the mating season begins. The duration of pregnancy is 150-160 days. After the set period, the female animal gives birth to a baby that is tiny in relation to the size of the mother. In rare cases, two babies are born. It is quite difficult to recognize these blind, small, almost hairless balls of future chic pandas.
The mother carefully protects her cub, which is prone to fairly rapid growth. Kids are usually too active and very inquisitive. They are in constant search of adventure and entertainment.
The bamboo bear, as the animal is often called, is listed in the Red Book due to its small numbers. In China, the great giant panda symbolizes the national priceless treasure.
How long does a panda live?
A giant panda lives for about 20 years in the wild.
How much does a panda weigh?
The white fluffy panda has a body length of up to 1.8 m, weighs about 160 kg, and also differs from other species of the bear family in its rather long tail, approximately 10-15 cm.
