Panda is the most Panda is the most attractive among attractive among

animals in danger. animals in danger.

Some factsSome facts The Chinese people call the panda "Da xiong The Chinese people call the panda "Da xiong

mao," which means "giant bear cat“mao," which means "giant bear cat“ The panda is a symbol of peace in China.The panda is a symbol of peace in China.Panda is an emblem of Panda is an emblem of

W W F (W W F (WorldWorld  WideWide  FundFund For  For Nature)Nature)

VocabularyVocabulary Male – Male – boarsboars Female – Female – sowssows The young are The young are called called cubscubs

EYESEYES Most bears' eyes Most bears' eyes have round pupils. have round pupils. The exception is the The exception is the giant panda, giant panda, whose pupils are whose pupils are vertical slits, like cats' eyesvertical slits, like cats' eyes

ColorColor Giant pandas are white with black patches Giant pandas are white with black patches

around the eyes, ears, shoulders, chest, legs, around the eyes, ears, shoulders, chest, legs, and feet. This black-and-white coloring may and feet. This black-and-white coloring may camouflage (hide) camouflage (hide)

the panda in the the panda in the snowy, rocky snowy, rocky environment. environment. 

SIZESIZE The largest pandas grow to be about 250 pounds The largest pandas grow to be about 250 pounds

(115 kg), about the weight of a large adult human. (115 kg), about the weight of a large adult human. They are about 5.25 to 6 feet (1.6 to 1.8 m) longThey are about 5.25 to 6 feet (1.6 to 1.8 m) long

The panda's The panda's tail is about tail is about 6 inches (16 cm)6 inches (16 cm) long. long. 

DIETDIET Their diet is almost exclusively two species of Their diet is almost exclusively two species of

bamboo (arrow and umbrella bamboo). bamboo (arrow and umbrella bamboo).  Pandas eat about 40 pounds (18 kg) of food Pandas eat about 40 pounds (18 kg) of food

each day.each day.

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EATINGEATING bamboo plants only grow in a few places. This bamboo plants only grow in a few places. This

limits the range of pandas tremendously.limits the range of pandas tremendously. Bamboo species go through periodic die-offs Bamboo species go through periodic die-offs

after they flower – pandas have to migrate all after they flower – pandas have to migrate all the timethe time

Pandas usually eat while sitting in an upright Pandas usually eat while sitting in an upright position. They can use their front paws to hold position. They can use their front paws to hold their food. their food. 

TEETHTEETH They also have a few sharp teeth which they They also have a few sharp teeth which they

use to bite tough bamboo stalks. Pandas have use to bite tough bamboo stalks. Pandas have 42 teeth42 teeth

FURFUR Pandas have very thick, oily, woolly fur that keeps Pandas have very thick, oily, woolly fur that keeps

them warm in their cold, wet mountain habitat. them warm in their cold, wet mountain habitat. Their fur is made of two types of hairs; there are Their fur is made of two types of hairs; there are

long, thick, coarselong, thick, coarse hairs and a shorter, hairs and a shorter, fine, dense underfur. fine, dense underfur. This fur is waterproof. This fur is waterproof. 

DISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTION In the wild, giant pandas only live in a few In the wild, giant pandas only live in a few

mountain ranges in central and western China, mountain ranges in central and western China, mainly inmainly in

Sichuan, Shaanxi,Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu and Gansu provinces. provinces. 

HABITATHABITAT Giant pandas are found in mixed Giant pandas are found in mixed

deciduous/evergreen temperate forests, deciduous/evergreen temperate forests, between 3,000 between 3,000

and 10,500 feet and 10,500 feet (900-3,200 m) I(900-3,200 m) In altitude n altitude (below the (below the timberline). timberline).

NUMBERSNUMBERS There are roughly There are roughly 1,000-1,500 pandas living1,000-1,500 pandas living in the wild (in China). in the wild (in China). There are about 120 There are about 120 living in zoos and breedingliving in zoos and breeding centers around the world. centers around the world.

LIFE SPANLIFE SPAN Some pandas in zoos have lived to be 35 years Some pandas in zoos have lived to be 35 years

old. Hsing-Hsing, who lives in the National old. Hsing-Hsing, who lives in the National Zoo, turned 29 in Zoo, turned 29 in

1999. 1999. Most animals live Most animals live longer in captivity longer in captivity than in the wildthan in the wild

REPRODUCTIONREPRODUCTION Pandas have a very slow reproductive rate which Pandas have a very slow reproductive rate which

contributes to their declining numberscontributes to their declining numbers Females give birth between 95 and 160 daysFemales give birth between 95 and 160 daysafter mating.after mating. They have They have their cubs intheir cubs in dens that dens that they dig in they dig in the ground. One or two cubs are born but usually only the ground. One or two cubs are born but usually only

one survivesone survives

BABY PANDASBABY PANDAS white, blind, furless, and white, blind, furless, and helpless at birth. Except for helpless at birth. Except for marsupials (kangaroos, marsupials (kangaroos, opossums, etc.), giant panda opossums, etc.), giant panda cubs are the smallest newborncubs are the smallest newborn mammals. They weigh four mammals. They weigh four to six ounces (85-140 g) as to six ounces (85-140 g) as newborns. This is lighter thannewborns. This is lighter than an apple. an apple. 

Their Their future survival future survival

is is up to us.up to us.