This oily protective coating helps protects giant pandas from the cool and damp climate in which the bear lives. Over fifteen different varieties of bamboo grow within the region. Because of the giant pandas still quite inefficient intestinal system, it must eat great amounts of bamboo each day in order to get sufficient nutrition to survive. The size of the home range of an giant panda is quite small when compared to the home ranges of other bear species. The range of an individual giant panda is shared with other bears.
Males have larger home ranges which overlap the home ranges of several females.
Reproduction Female giant pandas do not normally mature until they are 5 to 7 years of age. May. Similar to other bear species, the female stays in heat for only a short time, normally two to seven days. Unlike any other bear, males will often roar to announce their presence to receptive females. Females may mate with several males during the breeding season. Through a remarkable process referred to as delayed implantation, the fertilized ovum divides a few times and then floats free within the uterus for a few months with its development arrested.