The Common Name for a Giant Panda

Giant panda is the common name for Ailuropoda melanoleuca, which is found in southwest China to the east of the Tibetan plateau. With fewer than 2,500 mature giant pandas left in the wild, the future of this animal is up in the air.

  1. Physical Attributes

    • The giant panda has a body typical of most other bears and is black and white in color. It stands 2 to 3 feet tall when standing on all fours and can weigh up to 250 pounds in the wild. Its strong jaw muscles enable it to crush the bamboo leaves that it eats.

    Lifestyle

    • Unlike many other bears from similar climates, giant pandas do not hibernate. They spend much of their time resting, feeding, and seeking bamboo leaves to eat. These animals are social beings that meet in small groups even outside of the breeding season.

    Threats to Survival

    • There are three major threats to the survival of the giant panda. These threats include the loss of their homeland, low rates of reproduction, and hunters. As human beings in China expand and require more living space, this inevitably means less space for the giant panda. With a short breeding season and only one or two offspring produced, very few giant pandas are being cycled back into the population. Lastly, while China has made efforts to stop the hunting of giant pandas, traps intended for other animals can still kill the bears.