Giant Panda

The scientific name for the Giant Panda is Ailuropoda melanoleuca.

Giant Pandas are solitary living alone in the mountain forests of central China. The Giant Panda’s pop has dwindled due to the destruction of the bamboo forests to make for activities like farming.

The Giant Panda is one of the rarest mammals, it is on the list of critically endangered species. At this time fewer than 1000 Giant Pandas survive in the wild. The logging and forest cleaning and destroying the Panda’s high altitude homes.

The Giant Panda has a thick fur coat to keep out the cold. Pandas have big heads, rounded ears and small tails. Giant Pandas have a long snout with a big nose and they have a good sense of smell. Giant Pandas are 5 1/4 - 6 3/4 feet and weigh 155 lbs to 280 lbs. A Giant Panda’s fur is waterproof that helps the panda stay warm. Giant Panda’s can walk on all four paws or they can stand on their hind legs and and walk upright for short distances.

The Giant Panda eats different parts of more than 30 species of bamboo native in their habitat. Giant Pandas live almost entirely on Bamboo.

Panda Bears are very playful and flexible. The giant panda is the only mammal that can touch its head to the bottom of it’s foot. While Panda Bears are very cute they can still be very dangerous. The Giant Panda usually prefer to avoid conflict, but will fight to protect their young. The Giant Panda marks its territory with urine and claw scratches.

The female panda bleats, and barks during breeding season; the male Giant Panda chase and fight each other over a receptive female. Gestation is 97-181 days and the female Giant Panda gives birth to 1-2 cubs at a time. Young Panda Bears are preyed on by leopards.

Giant Pandas live up to 30 years old in the wild.

About the Author
Jacob Maddox manages content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com an educational wildlife and animal website. Jacob also guest writes for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net