Pets & Animals

The fact that Giant Panda Bears are unique and widely revered creatures has not prevented them from languishing in continual danger of extinction. Giant Panda Bear populations throughout China and Nepal are perilously low because of their highly specialized diet and relatively low rate of reproduction. Within the past two decades, strenuous efforts to shield native Panda habitats from further encroachment are showing signs of success, however gradual.

A Primer on Panda Bears
Pandas are large, slow moving omnivores that belong to the Ursidae, or Bear, family. While they might not necessarily resemble North American Bears in terms of behavior and outward appearance, biologists have grouped them together on the basis of common characteristics and the shape and size of their skulls. It is remarkable to note that Ursidae family is composed of a diverse array of subspecies that occupy every continent on the planet save Antarctica.

Adult Panda Bears grow to three to three and one half feet in length, and generally weigh in the neighborhood of three hundred pounds. Intrepid consumers of Bamboo, a healthy Panda Bear will consume nearly 20 pounds of bamboo per day. Maintaining this rate of consumption saves little time during the Pandas daily schedule for activities other than sleep.

Female Panda bears tend to give birth once every year, producing litters that number up to four cubs, although two is the norm. Panda cubs are weaned at six months, and at nine months they begin what is hopefully a long life of feasting on bamboo. It is said that during the first year of life, a Panda cub will consume at least 75 pounds of bamboo.