The giant panda, or panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca, literally meaning "black and white cat-foot")[2] is a bear[3] native to central-western and south western China.[4] It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo.[5] Pandas in the wild will occasionally eat other grasses, wild tubers, or even meat in the form of birds, rodents or carrion. In captivity they may receive honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges, or bananas along with specially prepared feed.
Ten Facts about Giant Panda
- There are two different species of Pandas:a. Ailuropoda melanoleuca (Giant Panda Bear)b. Ailurus fulgens (Red Panda, or Lesser Panda)
- Giant Pandas are native to China and TibetThe common habitat is a damp coniferous forest. The diet of these Pandas consist of bamboo stems, bamboo leaves and bamboo shoots ( about 80 pounds of bamboo every day ).
- The name of a male is referred to as a boar or he-bear & the name of female is referred as a sow or she-bear. The name or offspring, or a baby Giant Panda, is a cub.
- The collective name for a group is a sleuth or sloth.
- The sounds made by the Panda is referred to as bleats, honks and growls.
- Fully grown they reach the height of 5-6 feet. An adult weighs about 276 pounds.
- Most active during the day.
- There are less than 1,000 GiantPandas in the wild and just over 100 in captivity.
- Giant Pandas spend up to 16 hours eating.
- They are good tree climbers.
