The giant panda (or Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a species of bear native to the mountains of Central China. They have black and white fur in a distinctive pattern, with black legs, ears and circles around their eyes. Pandas feed almost exclusively on bamboo and, as a result, are extremely dependent on rich bamboo forests to survive. This is a low energy food, so pandas must eat a lot of it to live and spend most of their waking hours foraging and eating. Their low energy intake also means they produce very tiny and vulnerable cubs.
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Ailuropoda melanoleuca
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Animal Facts
Pandas have the smallest babies relative to adult body size of any placental mammal; cubs are 800x smaller than their mothers.
Pandas have evolved a 6th finger that helps them strip leaves from bamboo.
The giant panda is the only bear species that is entirely herbivorous. Unlike many other animals, pandas are not used in Chinese traditional medicine.
There is a sub-population of giant pandas called 'Qinling pandas' that are chocolate brown and white.
Pandas are a symbol of peace in China; warring groups would hold up flags with panda images on them to call a truce.