With their remarkable black-and-white contrast, pandas carry a huge history throughout the animal kingdom, triggering the critical need for their safeguard. The origin of pandas dates back millions of years, having changed considerably since their forefathers traversed the earth in the late Miocene period. These days, there are two kinds of animals: the giant and red panda. Both of them eat bamboo and live in thick forests.
The Giant Panda, commonly recognized for its distinct black and white patches, resides within bamboo abysses in China’s central region. This has caused it to be labeled as an endangered species since there are hardly 1,900 remaining. Ordinarily, The male giant panda is known to be bulky, which can stretch up to a length of 1.8 meters as well as weigh over 100kg whereas their female counterparts are smaller. Their unusual characteristics are; ears with patches of black fur, and paws that are also black but the rest part is white.
Despite they cannot digest cellulose, they consume a lot of bamboos, sometimes feeding up to 16 hours a day. This is because they have an enlarged wrist bone which looks like a thumb and helps them to handle bamboo, being their main diet constituting 90-98% going by the fact that it is a primary component of their diet. Giant pandas live as loners territorializing through scents and other forms of communication. They breed during spring season giving birth in the autumn months. Their cubs are born helpless seeing only after several weeks of nurture from mothers who look after them until they mature enough to feed themselves at around 18-24 months old. In the wild, these animals may live for twenty years while under captivity they have been known to reach thirty years.
Many people think pandas are charismatic megafauna; therefore their conservation efforts are symbolized by them. This raises awareness of other threatened creatures as well as broader environmental matters. Despite not being keystone species, these animals are significant in their environments because they represent the necessity of preserving habitat. The WWF uses giant pandas for instance to underline the essence of conservation.
Fun Facts About Panda
1. Diet of Pandas
Contrary to popular ideas on the diet of pandas, they do not strictly eat bamboo. Bamboo may be their major meal, but they are generally omnivorous and sometimes feed on small mammals, fish, and even eggs.
2. Bamboo Lovers
A unique adaptation has enabled Pandas to feed almost exclusively on bamboo. This adaptation comes in the form of a special wrist bone that acts like a pseudo thumb to help them grip bamboo sticks tightly.
3. Large Appetites
Pandas have big tummies which means that they need to eat bamboo every day for approximately twelve hours to maintain their weight appropriately. One adult giant panda can eat up to forty pounds or eighteen kilograms worth of bamboo shoots daily.
4. Sense of Smell
They live alone and have a very sharp power of smell which they use during the breeding season and to avoid other males.
5. Living in the Clouds
They live on mountains in South-Western China that are full of clouds, especially those heavy ones in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces, where bamboo plants grow naturally. Thus there is always a feeling of mysticism due to the thick mist rising from time to time.
6. Solitary Creatures
Generally, pandas, which are solitary animals, prefer their own company to socialize with other animals because they like living alone most of the time. That’s the reason why they have territories that are marked by a smell that they leave behind to show others that indeed they are there.
7. Slow Movers 
The panda is known to be slow because of its low-calorie bamboo diet. This consequently results in it having a very slow and deliberate movement since it has a low metabolic rate.
8. Black and White
The distinctive fur of a panda is an excellent camouflage in its natural habitat. These animals use black and white to mix with shadows and sunlight coming from bamboo trees.
9. Bamboo Forest Protectors
Those who protect the pecan tree: A great role in maintaining a balance in bamboo forests is played by pandas. They contribute by spreading seeds via their droppings towards the growth and regeneration of the bamboo groves.
10. Conservation Concerns
Pandas are classified by IUCN as vulnerable where they have significant threats of habitat loss, habitat fragmentation as well as low reproductive rates.
11. Born Pink
Panda cubs are very tiny, blind, and pink-born weighing only 3 to 5 ounces (85 to 142 grams). They get the iconic black and white fur later as they grow.
12. Great Climbers
Balance to their massive character would be pandas as they can effortlessly climb trees. They either climb trees to get away from their enemies or to access new bamboo sprouts.
13. Physical Strength
Pandas have immense strength and can deliver a powerful bite that can crush bamboo stalks with their strong jaws.
14. Love for Napping
Famous for their fondness for resting, pandas usually lay down to sleep after meals so as not to expend much energy.
15. Vocal Communication
Though not very noisy in general, pandas use multiple vocal signals to indicate their intentions. Additionally, claim territory including bleating, honking, and growling.
16. Adored Cultural Symbols
Loved by The Society is of the view that in the Chinese culture, pandas are very symbolic. Moreover, also viewed as treasures both nationally and locally. They are common as signs of peace, harmony, and good luck.
17. Sensitive Digestive Systems
Pandas rely on an adapted intestinal flora that can decompose the indigestible cell walls of plants like bamboo. Because their sensitive digestive tracts are not suited for digesting bamboo as efficiently as they should be.
18. Lifespan
In the wilderness, pandas generally survive for around a score of years and even above but when in captivity can surpass thirty years or beyond if managed right.
19. Gifted Swimmers
Talented dippers are pandas for they happen to be excellent swimmers who would surprisingly enough dive into the rivers or lakes in hot periods just to find relaxation.
Pandas are famous for how much time they spend taking care of themselves by grooming their paws & tongues hence keeping them very neat always.
21. Conservation Efforts
Many conservation organizations and governments undertake measures like habitat restoration, captive breeding programs, and public awareness campaigns to protect pandas and their habitats.
Final Words
The adorable creatures called pandas are truly astonishing and fascinating animals. Also, they have unique body structures making them the best bear species. Therefore, it is important to observe their conservation status since they fall into the category of endangered species. It is significant to identify the habits these animals have for we as human beings would be able to know more about them (Cox, 1985). Let us strive for a future in which pandas survive forever.
FAQ’s
Why is panda a rare animal?
Habitat reduction, low reproduction, and especially bamboo as their diet are making pandas rare. It is key to be careful of them to secure future generations from their protection.
Why is it called panda?
The word “panda” hails from the Nepalese “nigalya ponya,” which implies “bamboo eater.” It was first given to the red panda but later applied to the giant panda when they found out about their closeness by looks and behavior in 1901.
What do pandas eat?
Pandas mainly eat bamboo, which makes up around 99 percent of their diet. They consume large quantities, between 12 and 38 kilograms per day, to power their bodies. On occasion, they also eat other plants and fruits or small animals, Moreover, given how their digestive systems have evolved to be meat eaters with bamboo which they still rely upon.
