Here's why:
* Natural Habitat: In the wild, pandas live in mountainous bamboo forests in China, where they need vast areas to roam, find food, and mate.
* Social Needs: While not overly social, pandas need space to avoid conflict and have their own territories.
* Foraging: Bamboo, their primary food source, needs a lot of space to grow. Pandas need to move around to find fresh bamboo shoots and leaves.
* Enrichment: In captivity, providing large, stimulating enclosures with varied terrain, climbing structures, and opportunities for exploration is crucial to their well-being.
Therefore, both in the wild and in captivity, pandas require a significant amount of space to thrive.