Giant Panda

Giant Panda Overview

The giant panda is a bear species easily recognized by its distinctive black patches around the eyes and ears. It has a diet consisting of 99% bamboo, requiring it to spend up to 12 hours a day feeding. It is a symbol of worldwide conservation efforts.

Threats & Conservation

Habitat fragmentation due to roads and railways, low reproductive rates, and dependency on vulnerable bamboo ecosystems.

Did You Know?

• 1

  Giant pandas have an extra digit on their hands that acts like an opposable thumb for holding bamboo.

• 2

  Newborn pandas are incredibly tiny—about the size of a stick of butter (1/900th of their mother's size).

• 3

  They are excellent tree climbers and can also swim.