The giant panda is a small black and white bear with an infantile appearance brought about by its shortened muzzle and large black fur eye patches. Most of its torso and head are white with a black saddle across its back, black fore and hind limbs and black ears. It can weigh up to 275 pounds. Diet Giant pandas live almost solely on a diet of bamboo, up to 33 pounds a day, and will very rarely eat other plant matter or scavenge the meat of dead deer or takin. Behavior Pandas are basically solitary, although neighboring males and females are likely to be familiar with each other and interact occasionally.
Males have large territories that overlap the smaller territories of several females.
Pandas become sexually mature at between 4 and 6 years of age. Females are in estrus for only one to three weeks out of the year, usually from March to May, and in that brief period are at peak receptiveness for only a few days. Litters range from one to three cubs, but usually only one survives. Cubs are weaned at around 9 months but may remain with their mothers until 18 months or older. Pandas are extremely endangered, with little more than 1000 individuals remaining in very fragmented and isolated habitat islands.