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. Pandas are basically solitary, although neighboring males and female 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. The Panda's main threat is deforestation, the insularization of its remaining habitat and poaching. There are currently about 110-120 giant pandas in captivity with the majority of those in China. The Chinese government recently approved a 10 year plan to enhance existing reserves, build new reserves and create habitat corridors between reserves. The money to carry out this conservation program is not yet available, but AZA hopes to assist in fund-raising for implementation of this project.