Overview
The giant panda is a bear native to the mountain forests of central China, famous for a diet made up almost entirely of bamboo despite a digestive system built for meat.
Appearance
It has a distinctive black-and-white coat with black patches around the eyes, ears, and across the shoulders and legs.
Habitat & Distribution
The giant panda is found in forest, mountain habitats.
Diet & Behavior
Diet: Herbivore — Plant-eating animals that graze or browse on grasses, leaves, and other vegetation, from tiny insects to giant elephants.
Pandas spend most of their waking hours eating bamboo, are largely solitary, and rely on a modified wrist bone that functions like a thumb to grip stalks.
Predators
- Leopard
- Jackal (cubs)
Prey
This species does not prey on other animals.
Interesting Facts
- 1
A panda can eat up to 12 hours a day and consume 12–38kg of bamboo.
- 2
Despite eating mostly plants, a panda's digestive system is that of a carnivore.
- 3
Newborn pandas are pink, blind, and roughly the size of a stick of butter.
Gallery
Giant Panda FAQs
What does a giant panda eat?
The giant panda is a herbivore. Plant-eating animals that graze or browse on grasses, leaves, and other vegetation, from tiny insects to giant elephants.
Where does the giant panda live?
The giant panda is found in forest, mountain habitats across asia.
Is the giant panda endangered?
The giant panda has a conservation status of Vulnerable. Species facing a high risk of extinction in the wild due to habitat loss, hunting, or other pressures.
How long do giant pandas live?
A giant panda's typical lifespan is 20–30 years in the wild.
How much does a giant panda weigh?
An adult giant panda typically weighs 70–125 kg.