Giant Panda

Giant panda

Fast Facts 

Height: 2.5 feet (.8m) at shoulders.
Length: 5 ft (1.5m) (with a 6 inch (.2m) tail).
Weight: Around 250 lbs (113 kg) (males); around 220 lbs (100 kg) (females).
Lifespan 20-30 years in captivity

Diet:Pandas eat bamboo. Since giant pandas have the digestive system of a carnivore, they do not have the ability to digest cellulose (plant matter) efficiently and thus derive little energy and little protein from consumption of bamboo. So, the average giant panda has to eat as much as 20 to 45 lbs (9-20 kg) of bamboo shoots a day. On occasion, giant pandas are also known to eat flowers, vines, tufted grasses, green corn, honey and rodents.

Population: Today, an estimated 2,000 pandas are found in the wild. By the end of 2006, there were a reported 180 pandas in captivity on mainland China and about 20 in other countries.

Range:Historically pandas lived in both mountainous and lowland regions of central-western and southwestern China. They are now found only in the mountains of central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.

Reproduction

Mating Season: March-May.
Gestation: 3-5 months.
Litter size: 1-2 cubs.    Cubs are born blind and helpless and if there are twins, only one cub survives. The cub's eyes open at six to eight weeks and it starts to move around at three months. Weaned at six months, the cub becomes independent after a year. They may, however, stay with their mothers for up to three years before they strike out on their own.

Curiosities about the Giant Panda

• Pandas have evolved special features to help them eat their favorite food: strong jaws, large molars, and a "thumb" that helps them hold the bamboo while they eat!

• At birth, panda cubs typically weigh 4-8oz (100–200g) and measure around 6 inces (15cm) long.