What kind of animal is a giant panda?

Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a mammal belonging to the order Carnivora, family Ursidae, and is indigenous to the temperate forests and mountains of south-central China. It is a large, black-and-white bear that is classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Giant pandas are best known for their distinctive black-and-white markings and their unique dietary preference for bamboo.