Habitat: the land of the panda | WWF Clic to discover the results of the last panda survey in China © naturepl.com / Eric Baccega / WWF A shrinking refuge The giant panda was once widespread throughout southern and eastern China, as well as neighbouring Myanmar and northern Vietnam. But due to expanding human populations and development, the species is now restricted to around 20 isolated patches of bamboo forest in six mountain ranges in China's Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Most of the remaining wild pandas live in the Minshan and Qinling mountains. And it is here that WWF has focussed its giant panda conservation work, supporting the Chinese government's efforts to conserve the species. Since habitat loss is the most serious threat to the panda, establishing new reserves and extending existing ones are crucial to its survival. After a significant increase in recent years, China now boasts a network of 67 panda reserves, which safeguard more than 66% of the giant pandas in the wild and almost 54% of their existing habitat.

The Chinese government, in partnership with WWF, has also developed bamboo corridors to link isolated pockets of forest, allowing the pandas within them to move to new areas, find more food and meet more potential breeding mates. Sign up for email updates * indicates required Subscribe to WWF Minshan Mountains The mountains form a natural barrier between the densely populated southern and eastern provinces of China and the great wilderness of the Tibetan Plateau, the highest and largest in the world. Spreading through the provinces of Sichuan and Gansu, the Minshan mountains run along the north of the Great Sichuan plain and to the east of the Tibetan Plateau, and form part of one of the most important watersheds in China. They are also home to hundreds of giant pandas with PingWu county boasting the highest density of wild pandas in the world. But the Minshan mountains' magnificent forests are a critical habitat not only for giant pandas but also for a wealth of other species, including the dwarf blue sheep and beautiful multi-coloured pheasants. Giant panda in Wolong Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province © Susan A. Mainka / WWF The Qinling Mountains. Shaanxi, China.

© WWF / Michel GUNTHER Qinling Mountains The mountains are part of China's most critical watershed, channeling rainwater into both of the country's great rivers, the Yangtze and the Yellow. Located in Shaanxi Province, the Qinling mountains form a natural barrier between northern and southern China, protecting the south from the cold northern weather. And the warm rains on the southern slopes support a rich variety of plants and animals. Along with a few hundred pandas, the mountains are also home to other endangered species, including the golden monkey, takin and crested ibis. As well as being fantastically rich in natural resources, the mountains also boast a long human history, dating back thousands of years. Qinling sub-species Scientists have discovered that the giant pandas in the Qinling Mountains are actually a different subspecies from the other giant pandas. © naturepl.com / Edwin Giesbers / WWF Giant Panda | Species | WWF Giant Panda Adopt a Pandah Overview Despite their exalted status and relative lack of natural predators, pandas are still at risk. Severe threats from humans have left just over 1,800 pandas in the wild. VU Status Adults can grow to more than four feet.

d Weight e Habitats Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests of southwest China This peaceful creature with a distinctive black and white coat is adored by the world and considered a national treasure in China. The panda also has a special significance for WWF because it has been WWF's logo since our founding in 1961. Pandas live mainly in bamboo forests high in the mountains of western China, where they subsist almost entirely on bamboo. They must eat from 26 to 84 pounds of it every day, a formidable task for which they use their enlarged wrist bones that function as opposable thumbs. A newborn panda is about the size of a stick of butter—about 1/900th the size of its mother—but can grow to up to 330 pounds as an adult. These bears are excellent tree climbers despite their bulk. Map data provided by IUCN Places Why They Matter Crucial Role in Forests Pandas play a crucial role in the bamboo forests where they roam by spreading seeds and facilitating growth of vegetation.

In the Yangtze Basin where pandas live, the forests are home to a stunning array of wildlife such as dwarf blue sheep, multicolored pheasants and other endangered species, including the golden monkey, takin and crested ibis. The panda’s habitat is at the geographic and economic heart of China, home to millions of people. By making this area more sustainable, we are also helping to increase the quality of life of local populations. Pandas bring huge economic benefits to local communities through ecotourism. Threats Population 1,864 in the wild Extinction Risk Vulnerable No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died EW Known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population CR Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the Wild EN Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild VU Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild NT Likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future LC Does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened Hunting Hunting remains an ever-present threat. Poaching the animals for their fur has declined due to strict laws and greater public awareness of the panda’s protected status.

But hunters seeking other animals in panda habitats continue to kill pandas accidentally. Habitat Loss China’s Yangtze Basin region, which holds the panda’s primary habitat, is the geographic and economic heart of this booming country. Roads and railroads are increasingly fragmenting the forest, which isolates panda populations and prevents mating. Forest destruction also reduces pandas’ access to the bamboo they need to survive. The Chinese government has established more than 50 panda reserves, but only around 61% of the country’s panda population is protected by these reserves. What WWF Is Doing WWF was the first international conservation organization to work in China at the Chinese government's invitation. WWF’s main role in China is to assist and influence policy-level conservation decisions through information collection, demonstration of conservation approaches, communications and capacity building. Protecting Giant Pandas We work towards and advocate for increasing the area of panda habitat under legal protection creating green corridors to link isolated pandas patrolling against poaching, illegal logging and encroachment building local capacities for nature reserve management continuing research and monitoring WWF has been helping with the Chinese government’s National Conservation Program for the giant panda and its habitat.

Thanks to this program, panda reserves now cover more than 3.8 million acres of forest. The WWF Logo Evolution of the WWF Logo The inspiration for the WWF logo came from Chi-Chi: a giant panda that was living at the London Zoo in 1961, the same year WWF was created. WWF’s founders were aware of the need for a strong, recognizable symbol that would overcome all language barriers. They agreed that the big, furry animal with her appealing, black-patched eyes would make an excellent choice. The first panda sketches were done by the British environmentalist and artist, Gerald Watterson. Based on these, Sir Peter Scott, one of WWF’s founders and a world-renowned conservationist and painter, drew the first logo. The design of the logo has evolved over the past four decades, but the giant panda’s distinctive features remain an integral part of WWF’s treasured and unmistakable symbol. Today, WWF’s trademark is recognized as a universal symbol for the conservation movement.

Pandas: Facts & Information | Giant Panda Images By Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor | September 26, 2014 01:13am ET MORE Pandas in captivity at the China Center for Research and Conservation of the Giant Panda in Wolong eat nutritious bars in addition to bamboo. Credit: Sue Nichols, Michigan State University Giant pandas are bears that are native to China, where they are considered a national treasure. Even with this exalted status, giant pandas are endangered: only about 1,600 live in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). About 100 live in zoos around the world. Size & description Also called great pandas, parti-colored bears, bamboo bears and white bears, giant pandas are distinguished from other pandas by their large size and black-and-white coloring. The bold coloring may provide camouflage, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo . Giant pandas live up to their name. They are 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) tall and weigh up to 300 lbs. (136 kilograms), according to the National Geographic, about the same as an American black bear.

By comparison, their distant relatives, red pandas , are only 20 to 26 inches (50 to 65 cm) tall and weigh 12 to 20 lbs. (5.4 to 9 kg). Habitat In the wild, giant pandas are only found in the remote, mountainous regions of central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, according to the National Zoo. In this area, there are cool, wet bamboo forests that are perfect for the giant panda's needs. Giant pandas make their dens from hollowed-out logs or stumps of conifer trees found within the forest. Eat fast — the horses may be coming! Credit: Sue Nichols, Michigan State University Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability. Diet A giant panda's appetite for bamboo is insatiable. They eat bamboo 12 hours a day. That adds up to 28 lbs. (12.5 kg) of bamboo each day, according to National Geographic . But one reason they eat so much is that bamboo is low in nutrients, according to the San Diego Zoo. Giant pandas also eat rodents, fish, insects and birds.

Eating both vegetation and meat makes these pandas omnivores. The giant panda's stomach is ideal for digesting bamboo. The walls of the stomach are extra-muscular to digest the wood of the bamboo. The stomach is also covered inside with mucus that prevents it from being punctured by splinters. Habits Giant pandas are loners. They dislike being around other pandas so much that they have a heightened sense of smell that lets them know when another panda is nearby so it can be avoided, according to the National Geographic. If another giant panda does get close, the two will end up swatting and growling at each other. Sometimes they will even bite each other. On average, a giant panda's territory is about 1.9 square miles (5 square kilometers). To mark their territory, giant pandas secrete a waxy scent marker that they rub on their territory. Other giant pandas can tell the sex, age, reproductive condition, social status and more from the scent marker, according to the San Diego Zoo. The only time that these pandas seek each other out is during mating season. Males will use their smelling ability to find a female when they are ready to mate.

Twin panda cub brothers snuggle up at Zoo Atlanta, and now they have names: Mei Lun (may loon) and Mei Huan (may hwaan). Credit: Zoo Atlanta Giant Panda Bear | Facts, History, Information and Habitat Image Source The Giant Panda (black-and-white cat-foot) (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), is a mammal classified in the bear family, Ursidae, native to central-western and southwestern China. Giant Pandas are one of the rarest mammals in the world. Pandas are easily recognized by their large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears and across their round body. Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Pandas once lived in lowland areas, however, farming, forest clearing and other development now restrict giant pandas to the mountains. The mist shrouded mountain forests of China, have slowly disappeared over the last century. Many of the bamboo areas which are vital for the Pandas diet and survival are being cut down by people who then build farms there. The Giant Panda is an endangered species.

According to the latest report, China has 239 giant pandas in captivity (128 of them in Wolong and 67 in Chengdu) and another 27 pandas living outside the country. It also estimated that around 1,590 pandas are living in the wild. Giant Panda Characteristics The Giant Panda has a black-and-white coat. Adult pandas measure around 1.5 metres long and around 75 centimetres tall at the shoulder. Males are 10 – 20% larger than females. Male pandas can weigh up to 115 kilograms (253 pounds). Female pandas are generally smaller than males and can occasionally weigh up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds). The giant panda has a body typical of bears. Pandas have black fur on their ears, eye patches, muzzles, legs and shoulders. The rest of the pandas coat is white. The pandas thick, wooly coat keeps it warm in the cool forests of its habitat. Giant pandas have large molar teeth and strong jaw muscles for crushing tough bamboo. Many people find these cuddly looking bears to be lovable, however, giant pandas can be as dangerous as any other bear.

ADVERTISEMENT Pandas have the largest molars out of all the carnivorous mammals. The forepaws of the panda have an extra ‘thumb’ called an ‘opposable pseudo thumb’ which is used in conjunction with its ‘forefingers’ and enables the panda to grasp even small bamboo shoots with precision. After the sloth bear, the panda has the longest tail in the bear family measuring 4 – 6 inches long. Giant Pandas can usually live to be 20 – 30 years old in captivity. Giant Panda Diet Although Pandas mostly eat bamboo, they are still classed as a carnivore. Pandas have a digestive system of a carnivore, however, they have adapted to a vegetarian diet through their large consumption of bamboo. A Pandas digestive system cannot digest the cellulose in bamboo, that is why they have to eat so much and for long periods of the day. The average Giant Panda eats as much as 20 to 30 pounds of bamboo shoots a day. Because pandas consume a diet low in nutrition, it is important that they keep their digestive tract full. Pandas may eat other foods such as honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges and bananas.

Pandas do not hibernate as they are not able to store enough fat to feed them through the winter on their diet of bamboo. Giant Panda Behaviour Pandas are good at climbing trees and they can swim as well. Pandas are difficult to see out in the wild as they live among the thick dense bamboo plants in old-growth forests which is their favourite habitat. Pandas are very solitary creatures and will live alone and will only meet other pandas during mating season. Giant panda bears are silent creatures most of the time, however, they can bleat. Pandas do not roar like other bears, however, they do have 11 different calls, four of which are only used during mating. The Giant Panda is active at twilight and during the night. Throughout the day, it will make dens in caves, hollow trees and dense thickets. To avoid competition with other pandas over food and to signal its presence, the Panda will mark its territory by putting a pungent secretion from its anal glands on stones and tree trunks. The male Giant Pandas home range may overlap with several female territories and when breeding season arrives during the springtime, he will attempt to mate with these local females.

The female Pandas usually announce their readiness to breed by becoming more vocal and leaving special scent marks around to enable the males to track them. The females give birth to their cubs in the Autumn and these stay as constant companions for the next 18 months or more. Pandas signify aggression by lowering their heads and staring at their opponents. To signal submissiveness, a panda will put its head between its front legs and often hide its eye-patches with its paws. This position is also adopted by females during mating, and by captive animals that are being harassed by humans. At close range, aggression is signaled by a swipe with a paw, or by a low-pitched growl or bark that will send an opponent scampering up the nearest tree. Giant Panda Reproduction Giant Pandas have a very slow reproductive rate which sadly contributes towards their decline in numbers. Giant Pandas mate during the springtime. The female panda’s gestation time varies between 112 days and 163 days. After this time, she will give birth to one single cub. On rare occasions, she will produce 2 – 3 cubs, but usually only one will survive.

The female panda can only conceive during a 72 hour estrus period which only happens during the spring breeding period. Because of this limited time for the female to become pregnant, some mating pairs will often copulate for several hours, whereas other mating pairs will only copulate once. Male pandas are more sexually active for longer and will attempt to mate with several female pandas during this time. The mating pairs will show no interest in each other at any other time of the year. The female panda gives birth in the Autumn. Panda cubs are very small, weighing between 3.5 and 6 ounces. They have little fur, are pinkish white in colour, blind and very helpless. No other mammal gives birth to such a small baby except marsupials like the kangaroo who keeps her babies in her pouch until they are fully developed. A panda mother will carry her cub around in her arms and care for its every whim constantly. Panda cubs cry just like human babies when they need feeding or need care from their mother. They will cry for milk about every 2 hours or so. Between feeding times, the mother panda will continuously hold her cub very gently.

This attentive behaviour will continue until the cub is able to move around by itself when the cub is about 3 months old. At this age, the cub will continue to follow its mother around and by 6 months the cub can begin eating bamboo. They are finally weaned off their mothers at around 9 months old. The weaning of the cubs in the spring following their births is an ideal time as the newest most protein-filled bamboo shoots are available. This gives cubs the best possible start in life on a diet that in the best of conditions is of poor nutritional quality. At about a year old, the cubs can weigh 75 pounds, which is about a third of an adult pandas weight. Female pandas do not reach sexual maturity until they are 5 to 6 years old. However, even young, inexperienced female pandas display a maternal instinct and know instantly how to care for the young without needing any practice. This is very important because no breeding season is then wasted through ‘clumsy parenting’. Because female pandas start to breed quite late and only rear a single young cub every 2 years, she will only rear in total around 7 offspring in her lifetime.

By the age of 22, a female panda is considered ‘old’ and possibly ‘post-reproductive’. The giant pandas low reproductive rate makes it very difficult for a giant panda population to recover from a decline in numbers. With many conservation programs in place today, the Panda is desperately trying to be saved from extinction. It would be one of the greatest tragedies within the animal kingdom if this great bear was wiped out completely. Giant Panda Conservation Status Probably the most major threat to the survival of the Giant Panda Bear is the destruction of their natural habitats, along with increased human population and poaching. The different varieties of bamboo go through periodic die-offs as part of their renewal cycle. Without the ability to move to new areas which have not been affected, starvation and death will certainly occur for the giant panda. Such die-offs of the bamboo also put the giant pandas in more direct contact with farmers and poachers as the bears try to find new areas in which to feed. The recent announcement that the Chinese government will nearly double protected areas for giant pandas in the Qinling mountain range by creating five new panda reserves and five ‘corridors’ (linking protected regions) is expected to have a major benefit on the future of the panda.

Many organizations are continuously supporting and trying to find ways to save and preserve the existence of this special, adorable bear. More Fascinating Animals to Learn About Asia Symbols, Flags and National Anthems Print this map Giant Panda Native to China , the Giant Panda is an endangered species, and emblem to the country, appearing on many coins. Bengal Tiger The national symbol of India , the Bengal Tiger is also classified as endangered, and appears on coins and works of art throughout the country. For additional symbols used in Asia, follow the country map links... ADW: Ailuropoda melanoleuca: INFORMATION 3937.01 to 12795.28 ft Physical Description In general, A. melanoleuca has a round head, stocky body, and short tail. The shoulder height is 65-70 cm. It is well-known for its distinctive black and white markings. The limbs, eyes, ears, and shoulders are all black and the rest of the body is white. In some areas the black actually has a chesnut-red tinge. The dark markings around the eyes may be the reason for these animals' popularity giving them a wide-eyed, juvenile appearance.

An enlarged shoulder and neck region along with a smaller back end gives giant pandas an ambling gait. A baculum (bony rod in soft tissue of penis) is present as in many other mammals. However, in other bears it is straight and forwardly directed, while in giant pandas it is "S" shaped and backwardly directed. Giant pandas also have several adaptations to the skull. They have a large sagittal crest that has become wider and deeper resulting in powerful jaws. The molars and premolars are wider and flatter than other bears' and they have developed extensive ridges and cusps in order to grind tough bamboo. A notable feature on these animals is an extra, opposable digit on the hand known as "the panda's thumb." It has caused confusion in the past as to these bears' classification. This digit is not actually a thumb but a pad of skin overlying a radial sesamoid structure (wrist bone) (Ward and Kynaston, 1995; Helin et al., 1999). Other Physical Features 4.92 to 5.91 ft Reproduction Females in this species increase their scent markings as well as become more vocal when sexually receptive.

A study between sexually active and sexually inactive pandas suggested that scent markings relate to sexual activity and captive inhabitance could be the cause for the poor reproductive ability. Males may also compete for access to a female (Liu et al., 1998; Ward and Kynaston, 1995). Mating occurs from March to May. The female is in estrous for roughly 1-3 days. There is usually a delay of implantation which can last 1.5 months to 4 months. This may be due to climatic conditions so that the young is born at a fairly stable time. Females are less active as estrous begins, however they become restless, lose their appetite, and their vulva swells. Most of the young are born in August and September. Actual embryonic development lasts about 1.5 months. At birth, giant pandas, like all other bears are blind and helpless; but unlike most bears at birth, giant panda cubs are covered with a thin layer of fur. Newborn cubs weigh 85 to 140 grams. Immediately after birth the mother helps place the infant bear into a position to suckle.

Suckling takes place up to 14 times a day and lasts for periods of up to 30 minutes. Infant pandas open their eyes at 3 weeks and cannot move around on their own until 3-4 months and are weaned at about 46 weeks. A cub may remain with its mother up to 18 months (Massicot, 2001; Helin et al., 1999; Ward and Kynaston, 1995). Breeding these bears in captivity has been an incredible challenge. Giant pandas are notorious for their reluctance to breed in captivity (Helin et al., 1999; Milius, 2001; Ward and Kynaston, 1995). ( Helin, 1999 ; Massicot, July 29, 2001 ; Ward and Kynaston, 1995 ) Key Reproductive Features Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 5.5 to 6 years It has been found from studying giant pandas in captivity that they have twins more often than previously thought--roughly half the time.

The mother usually selects one and the other dies shortly after (Milius, 2001). Parental Investment female parental care Lifespan/Longevity One giant panda lived to an age of about 34 years in captivity but that is uncommon. Normal max life expectancy in captivity is 26 years, surprisingly it is sometimes as much as 30 years. Lifespan in the wild is not known (Massicot, 2001; Helin et al., 1999; Word Wildlife Fund, 2001). Range lifespan chemical Food Habits Giant pandas have an extremely strict energy budget. They travel little and are usually foraging when they do move. Giant pandas can spend 10-12 hours a day feeding. Bamboo, the main source of pandas' diet (over 99%) is a very poor nutritional source but present all year round. Only about 17% of the nutrients found in the leaves and stalks are extracted. These bears make a trade-off to have a plentiful, easily obtained food source but with low nutritional value. Giant pandas are well-known for their upright feeding position which leaves their forelegs free to handle the bamboo stalks.

This species has several special characteristics related to eating bamboo. The extra digit on the panda's hand helps the panda in tearing the bamboo. This adaptation also allows increased dexterity while handling bamboo. The stomach walls are extremely muscular to help digest the woody diet; and the gut is covered with a thick layer of mucus to protect against splinters (Ward and Kynaston, 1995; Malius, 2001; Massicot, 2001). Foods eaten include: bamboo stems and shoots, fruits of plant matter like kiwi, small mammals, fish and insects. Primary Diet fruit Predation The black and white markings on giant pandas may have served as an anti-predator device in the past when the animals had predation pressure. The black and white pattern might have broken up the outline the bears presented, similar to the effect of zebra stripes. Also, in the past, when these pandas inhabited snowier areas, the white may have helped these bears blend into the surroundings. However, today giant pandas live in almost snow free areas. Fortunately no more natural predators exist for pandas today (Ward and Kynaston, 1995).

Known Predators No natural enemies today but possibly in the past animals such as tigers Ecosystem Roles Giant panda population is closely tied to bamboo abundance and vice versa. Pandas help to distribute the bamboo seeds over areas. However, as panda numbers dwindle so does bamboo, making it harder for them to find food. Panda protected areas help to protect native ecosystems. ( World Wildlife Fund, 2001 ) Ecosystem Impact disperses seeds Economic Importance for Humans: Positive Giant pandas have been hunted for their fur. In recent years the pelt has been considered a valuable sleeping mat; it is comfortable but also believed to have supernatural markings which prevent ghosts and help predict the future through dreams. A panda skin is highly valued--in Japan it carries a price tag equal to $176,000. Giant pandas are also popular zoo exhibits attracting many people. ( Ward and Kynaston, 1995 ) Positive Impacts research and education Economic Importance for Humans: Negative There are no real negative economic impacts of giant pandas on humans, primarily because of their rarity.

Panda preserves occupy land that might be considered valuable for harvesting, but the presence of pandas and their economic impact through tourism and preservation of ecosystems is likely to more than make up for any negative impact of reduced development. Conservation Status Threats to this species include poaching, habitat loss, human encroachment, and trouble breeding in captivity. Tourism around giant pandas' habitat means more hotels, waste disposal systems, cars, buses, etc. and less room for pandas. Remaining bamboo forests in China only support about 1,000 wild pandas. Thirteen panda reserves totaling an area of 6,227 square km make up half of the remaining habitat. Also, the habitat has been broken into about 20 different separate patches. The pandas have trouble migrating from one site to another. Although efforts are showing improvement compared to earlier years, the zoo population of about 100 pandas worldwide has yet to produce enough cubs to maintain itself. The first successful panda breeding came in 1980 at the Mexico City Zoo, however the infant died after 8 days. In August 1999 another cub was born at San Diego Zoo and seems to be flourishing.

To protect the population in the wild, the Chinese government has many anti-poaching laws. Some violators of these laws have even been sentenced to death. In October 1989 the first executions for trading panda skins took place. China has also stopped commercial logging. In 1986 an education campaign took place among 5,000 villages. It attempted to teach farmers and villagers about panda protection and discourage them from cutting bamboo. In 1992 the Chinese government approved the National Conservation Program for the Giant Panda and its Habitat. Since the 1980s many programs have been put in place attempting to save these great animals. Success to breed them in captivity is looking more hopeful but in the wild the numbers are still low. Recent Chinese studies have shown that panda populations have actually been stable for 20 years, but all this effort still may not be enough to save this species (Ward and Kynaston, 1995; World Wildlife Fund, 2001; Massicot, 2001) Appendix I Other Comments There is an ancient Chinese story about how giant pandas got their unique markings.

A young girl who was a friend of these bears died and the pandas were struck with sorrow. They wept at the funeral and rubbed their eyes with their arms. The dark color from their arm bands was wiped onto their eyes. The bears then hugged themselves and marked their ears, shoulders, hind legs and rumps, resulting in the pattern seen today. The classification of A. melanoleuca has been a difficult one for researchers to agree upon. Giant pandas have several characteristics in common, like bamboo eating, with red pandas, who have sometimes been considered to be members of the raccoon family (but currently are also classified with bears). Today it is widely accepted with little doubt that that giant pandas belong to the bear family (Ward and Kynaston, 1995). Contributors LeeAnn Bies (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Cynthia Sims Parr (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Glossary altricial young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.

bilateral symmetry having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria. chemical uses touch to communicate temperate that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle). viviparous reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female. References Ding-Zhen, L., F. Ji-Ming, S. Ru-Yong, Z. Gui-Quan, W. Rong-Ping. 1998. Behavioral comparison in individuals of different sexual ability in giant panda. Acta Zoologica Sinica, 44(1): 27-34. Helin, S. 1999. The Mammalian of China. Beijing China: China Forestry Publishing House. Massicot, P.

July 29, 2001. "Animal Info-Giant Panda" (On-line). Accessed October 3, 2001 at #Countries . Milius, S. Jan. 27, 2001. The lives of pandas. Science News, 159(4): 61(3). Ward, P., S. Kynaston. 1995. Bears of the World. London: Blandford. World Wildlife Fund, 2001. "Endangered Species: Panda Conservation" (On-line). Accessed (Date Unknown) at . Habitat Of Giant Panda: Where The Giant Pandas Live See more details or book a place on the One-Day Dujiangyan Panda Valley and Dujiangyan Irrigation Project Tour . Behaviours The giant panda feeds on bamboo, and bamboo requires a cool, moist climate. Therefore the panda, by extension, requires a cool, moist climate. Given the panda's stocky build with its thick fur, both of which are the result of having adapted to a diet of bamboo, the panda is dressed for a cool, moist climate but cannot thrive in a hot, dry climate.

The original, meat-eating panda probably resembled a more normal type of bear. Just as the original giraffe, before it adapted to dining off trees, probably resembled a more normal, even-toed ungulate, or hoofed animal. The even-toed category includes the deer, the antelope, the camel and most of the domesticated farm animals but not the horse which is odd-toed. Bamboo grows best as undergrowth in mixed, broadleaf and coniferous forests at an elevation of 1525 metres (1, 666 yards) to 3050 metres (3, 335 yards), though the giant panda has been known to live on mountain slopes as high as 3960 metres (4, 330 yards). Everyday Life The panda sits when eating, with its outstretched hind legs in front of it, spending from 12-16 hours daily in eating and foraging for food, consuming, in the process 12-15% of their body weight!

If new bamboo shoots are available, the panda will typically concentrate on this food source, stuffing itself on up to 38 kilograms (84 lbs) of it in a single sitting! Otherwise the panda consumes about 13-15 kilograms (30-34 lbs) of a mixed "plate" of regular bamboo shoots and leaves. The panda eats different parts of the bamboo plant depending on the season. Summer through autumn is the monsoonal period when the leaves are available and the panda will concentrate on these while in winter, when the leaves are gone all that is left are the stems. At that time of year it is a tough life for a panda in the wild. In the spring, before the bamboo leaves spring forth, there is plenty of the panda’s favorite food available, e.g. fresh new bamboo shoots which the panda will gorge itself on. As indicated above, the giant panda spends upwards of 2/3 of its day eating and foraging for food. The rest of the time, it either lazes around or slumbers in for periods of 3-4 hours at a time.

Why Eating Bamboo The pandas that could tolerate bamboo better apparently won out, in a survival-of-the-fittest, with pandas relying more and more exclusively on bamboo, since the panda apparently had few if any competitors at the bamboo buffet. As already indicated in the Bare Facts section, bamboo is a low-calorie food source that has had a defining influence on both the physical appearance of the panda as well as on its behaviour. The bamboo diet has obviously determined the panda's habitat and it must live within easy access to bamboo forests. It has limited the panda's habitat to terrain that is not too steeply sloped even though the bamboo plant can easily survive on steep slopes because steeply sloped terrain would require greater exertion than the panda is capable of, at least on a sustained basis. Living Surroundings In earlier times, there could be up to 25 different bamboo species that were available to the panda in any given original habitat, but many of which have disappeared as humans have encroached on the bamboo's and panda's habitat and perhaps poaching of the panda itself, either for food or for sale as an exotic animal). Today, only a handful of bamboo species remain.

There are even fewer of them in the altitude range that suits the panda and this has also contributed to the threatened status of the panda. The panda obtains most of its protein from the bamboo plant's leaves, but it needs the stems partly for the water they contain. The stem also contains protein, only in lesser amounts even if the high fibre content of the stems means that the panda must relieve itself up to 40 times a day. Despite the high water content in the bamboo stem, it is not sufficient to fulfill the daily water requirements of the panda, therefore pandas must have access to rivers and streams, both of which, fortunately, there tend to be plenty of in the panda's habitat. Places and Countries to See Giant Pandas In China The giant panda once occupied almost all of southwestern to southeastern China (even the lowlands of these areas. This seems counterintuitive, given the panda's "dress", as well as parts of neighboring Burma (Myanmar) and Vietnam . Two decades ago, the number of special reserves was a mere 13, and note that the subsequent increase in special reserves is not due to habitat fragmentation, in fact, just the opposite occurred.

Today, the giant panda lives in the wild in about 50 special reserves in the two aforementioned mountain ranges: in the part of the Minshan Mountains that straddles Sichuan and Gansu Provinces and in the part of the Qinling Mountains that lies in Shaanxi Province. The giant panda lives in special breeding & research centers and in zoos throughout China and around the world. The special research & breeding centers of China are: Giant Panda Facts - Animals of Asia - WorldAtlas.com Environment Giant Panda Facts - Animals of Asia One of the friendliest bears in the world, the giant panda is also one of the rarest, with fewer than 2,000 in the wild today. The few members of the endangered Giant Panda living in the wild today are to be found within small, fragmented chunks of mountainous Chinese forests. 5. Physical Description The Giant Panda is a member of the bear family. It has a black-and-white-colored, thick, wooly coat covering the torso of its body. Predominately black fur, meanwhile, covers its eyes, muzzle, legs, shoulders, and its long wrist bones. Adult giant pandas weigh up to 330 pounds.

From their noses to the hind-parts, they are 150 centimeters (59 inches) long, accentuated by a 10 to 15 centimeter (4-6 inch) tail. Their height to the shoulder is around 90 centimeters (~3 feet). The giant panda is an omnivore, and it eats mainly plants, supplemented by a share of meat from birds and small rodents as well. 4. Diet Bamboo leaves, stems and shoots comprise 98 percent of the Giant Panda’s diet. But, since pandas have digestive systems akin to those of a carnivore, they can and will also occasionally eat small rodents, birds, and the small mammals known as "Pikas". Daily, an adult Giant Panda will consume 26 to 84 pounds of bamboo to meet their energy needs. The Giant Pandas obtain food by foraging through bamboo thickets in their native habitats. Using their elongated wrists that act like thumbs, they pluck bamboo and feed upon its stems, shoots, and leaves. Over the course of a typical day, the Giant Panda will spend a remarkable 12 hours eating. 3.

Habitat and Range The ideal habitat for the Giant Panda is that of a temperate broadleaf forest or mixed forest, especially those found in their native southwest China. The predominant Giant Panda population in the wild today is spread across 20 isolated patches of bamboo forest, themselves split between six mountain ranges of the Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces of China. Other, smaller groups are to be found in the Minshan and Qinling Mountains. Habitat loss to deforestation, expanding human populations, and poaching are the main threats the Giant Panda faces today. Due to these threats and others, the Giant Panda has been listed as "Endangered", and is one of the rarest bears in the world today. According to the WWF, who conducted the last Giant Panda census in 2014, 1,864 members of the species remain in the wild today. 2. Behavior The Giant Panda leads a solitary lifestyle. It is largely peaceful and avoids confrontation, but they will fiercely fight back if they or their cubs are threatened. The Giant Panda uses its physical strength and powerful jaws and teeth to fight back.Though bulky in appearance, the Giant Panda can climb trees and swim quite nimbly.

At 6 months old, the Giant Panda cubs can already clamber up trees. Unlike other bear breeds, the Giant Panda does not hibernate during winters. When eating, they assume a sitting posture with their hind legs stretched out in front of them. The Giant Panda marks its territorial routes by spraying urine, clawing trees, and rubbing against objects. 1. Reproduction The Giant Panda is sexually active during the breeding season which lasts from March to May, and the reproductive rate is around one cub every two years. A typical cub reaches sexual maturity at between 5.5 and 6.5 years-old. Giant Pandas have a sharp sense of smell which males will use to avoid one another, as well as to locate females "in heat" (during their Estrous cycle) for mating. A female can mate with several males competing for her for 2 to 4 days. The gestation period last between 95 and 160 days, and they usually deliver only one cub. Twins, however, are more likely to be born in captivity, where artificial insemination is often used to impregnate them. This page was last modified on January 21, 2016. On WorldAtlas.com

Question: The Giant panda is native to which country?
Answer: China