Panda

Panda

Panda Bears, cute and adorable, are on the endangered species list. Their habitat, extremely limited diet and poor reproductive and infant survival combine to extremely threaten their survival.There are two kinds of Pandas. The giant white and black Panda is the one that comes to mind for most of us. But, there is also the Red Panda which is also called the lesser Panda.

There are very few Pandas left in the wild and zoologists have been largely unsuccessful in breeding them in captivity up to now. The Chinese government has taken steps to protect these endangered animals.

Pandas live in and around mountainous slopes and exist on a diet largely comprised of bamboo shoots. They eat most of the day to consume the food they need for survival. There are about fifteen types of bamboo, reach with varying life cycles. Panda Bears eat primarily bamboo shoots. As die-offs in the bamboo cycle occur, the panda population also fall.

Westerners, in particular Americans, have a strong fondness for these cute creatures. If you talk to a Chinese person, they do not share this same fondness and wonder why we take such a liking to them.

The Giant Panda Bear:

The Giant Panda is white and black. An adult can grow to 3 1/2 to five feet and weigh up to 350 pounds. In the wild, adult female pandas give birth once a year and usually produce two cubs in the litter? A newborn cub will weigh around 5 ounces is all white and blind at birth. The black spots develop after about a month. A cub will begin to eat bamboo at about six months and be fully weaned after nine months. At the end of the first year they are about 70 to 80 pounds. The cubs will stay with their mother for about 1 1/2 years. A Panda reaches maturity at five to seven years and live in the wild for about 25 years.

While we generally refer to pandas as "bears" there is much discussion around whether they are bears, raccoons or their own species. They share some features of bears and some of raccoons. Let's let the zoologists continue their debate and we can focus on admiring these adorable creatures.

Did you Know? Giant Panda Bears do not hibernate during the winter. Due to their leaner diets, they do not build u the excess fat needed to hibernate.

Giant Pandas are an endangered species. There are only between 600 - 1000 in the wild. There are also about 60 in zoos around the world. Low reproductive rates, high infant mortality rates, poaching and human settlement in the Panda's territory are the primary causes of it's dwindling numbers. In addition, Pandas are solitary creatures and brred in the wild infrequently.