Giant Pandas and Endangered Species Giant Pandas and Endangered Species Giant Pandas Pandas are nocturnal mammals, of the Ailuropodidae family - related to raccoons and bears. It has a short tail and a dense white coat with the famous black fur on the shoulders, arms and legs, earsm and around the eyes. The giant panda has sharp claws, so it can climb trees. The front paw has an elongated wrist bone which acts like a thumb, enabling them to grasp their food. They eat mainly plant material, especially bamboo shoots.
Pandas eat in a sitting position for about twelve hours a day.
They can be very picky eaters. There are twenty-five types of bamboo in our world that pandas will eat. Captive pandas will only eat nine of these. Unlike other bears, the giant panda doesn't hibernate or walk on its hind legs. The Giant Panda breeds when it is 4-10 years old.