We found the following facts about the giant panda to be the most interesting and surprising. Giant pandas are mainly distributed in sichuan, shaanxi and gansu provinces of china. A giant panda s face is cute, but it is not chubby. However, there continue to be many threats to the ongoing survival of the species.
A member of the bear family, the giant panda is the only species in its genus. Free giant panda maze pdf free endangered species of asia word search pdf blog posts about the giant panda. The giant panda also known as the panda bear or simply the panda, is a bear native to south. Giant panda bear facts panda bear, giant panda bear. Panda lapbook from magic tree house endangered species series.
This rare species is found in the mountain ranges of westren china but mostly these types of animals are habitant in north qinling and west minshan mountain ranges. The giant panda, ailuropoda melanoleuca, is a bear. They live in a special type of forest where a plant called bamboo grows under the trees. Scientists arent sure how long pandas live in the wild, but in captivity they live to be around 30 years old. Only about 1,500 of these blackandwhite relatives of bears survive in the wild.
Giant pandas have a protruding wrist bone which functions as a thumb, helping them hold bamboo as they eat. In the wild, we find giant pandas in the mountains of china. Pandas are also known to eat eggs, the occasional fish, and some insects along with their bamboo diet. Most people in the world are able to recognise a panda.
The jaw and cheek muscles on a giant panda are so powerful that they can chew up an aluminum can into small pieces. Currently, only 29 small, fragmented regions in the world can support the habitat and diet of the giant panda. Giant pandas is an introduction to the popular blackandwhite bear. Beyond being photogenic, the giant panda inhabits some interesting traits.
A 2007 report showed 239 pandas living in captivity inside china and another 27 outside the country. Giant pandas are found only in the mountains of central china in small isolated areas of the. Giant pandas are typically solitary creatures except during the breeding season. They can also easily bite through a thick bamboo stalk.
The giant panda is a large, stocky animal measuring about 70 to 80 cm 27 to 32 in. Aug 31, 2018 the giant panda, with its black and white fur and black eye patches, is a very distinctive animal. Pandas have been known to live as long as 35 years when living in captivity at a zoo. The inspiration for the wwf logo came from chichi, a giant panda that was living at the london zoo in 1961, the same year wwf was created. First giant panda cubs born in canada november 14, 2015. Pandas in the wild occasionally eat other grasses, wild tubers, or even meat in the form of birds, rodents or carrion. Giant pandas are endangered, with only about 1600 left living in the wild. It lives in south central china although it belongs to the order carnivora, the pandas diet is 99% bamboo. Field air analysis of volatile compounds from free ranging giant pandas. They are very rare on the earth as only 1600 pandas are left alive. As much as 9098 percent of the pandas diet consists of the leaves, shoots, and stems of bamboo, a large grass available yearround in much of chinas forested regions. Giant pandas are bears with striking black and white markings. Jan 23, 2016 meet our featured animal, the giant panda.
Since you love giant pandas, you must want to know more information about them. The national zoo smithsonian offers many pdf lesson plans about pandas for free. The gestation period of the giant panda is only 57% of that of black bears, and. In fact, a giant panda s jaw and cheek muscles are so powerful that a panda can easily chew an aluminum dish into tiny pieces. Giant panda facts, giant panda pictures live animals list. The giant panda has a short tail, approximately 15 cm long. Giant panda, bearlike mammal inhabiting bamboo forests in the mountains of central china. Giant panda the giant panda has an insatiable appetite for bamboo.
However, despite its popularity, the panda is an endangered animal, and rare in the wild. The giant panda eats shoots and leaves, living almost entirely on bamboo. Apr 10, 2012 native to the mountain forests of southwest china, the giant panda is one of the most beloved animals in the world. As of december 2014, 49 giant pandas lived in captivity outside china, living in 18 zoos in different countries. It is the only panda bear which is native to south china. A pandas average life span is 2025 years in the wild and up to 30 in captivity. Informational nonfiction, 618 words, level p grade 2, lexile 970l.
Images depict everything from a tiny newborn to details of panda teeth, claws, and paw shape. The book also discusses the things being done to protect giant pandas from extinction. One of the worlds rarest animals, the giant panda lives in subalpine forests in the westcentral region of china. Their distinctive black and white colouring makes them one of the bestknown species in the world. Pupils could create a poster based on the five pawfect panda facts on page 2 of the resource sheet. Stephen jay gould discusses this feature in his book of essays on evolution and biology, the pandas thumb the giant pandas tail, measuring 10 to 15 cm 4 to 6 in, is the secondlongest in the bear family. Giant panda simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It reports the mammals size, life cycle, location, and endangered status. Included is a 3page reading narrative, giant panda distribution, giant panda facts, 3page 19. Giant panda facts, panda bear facts china discovery. A newborn panda weighs only 3 to 5 onces and is 1th the size of its mother.
Its diet consists primarily of plants mainly bamboo, but it also eats small animals. Giant panda bear facts endangered animals animal fact guide. Giant pandas can weigh between 100115 kg 220250 lb. You probably know what a panda looks like it is very large and has a distinctive black and white coat. The ears, eye patches, legs and shoulder band are black. Pdf giant pandas, one of the many endangered species for the longest time. A panda s average life span is 2025 years in the wild and up to 30 in captivity. The giant panda is also called panda or panda bear. High in dense bamboo forests in the misty, rainy mountains of southwestern china lives one of the worlds rarest mammals. They might occasionally look to see what their brethren are up.
A normal adult giant panda can produce more than 60 pounds of droppings in a 24hour period. In fact, its scientific name means black and white catfooted animal. This article has been written to help you find out more about these gentle giants. The giant panda is a type of bear, although for a long time scientists werent certain what its closest relatives were. The giant panda has an insatiable appetite for bamboo. They spend as long as 14 hours eating per day, and spend the rest of their time in sleeping. They are found in the qinling mountains as well as in sichuan. For years scientists have wondered whether pandas are a type of bear, raccoon, or something all their own. According to recent estimates, the population of giant pandas have risen significantly with credits going to the massive conservation efforts used to save the species. Giant pandas of china reading comprehension and substitute plan allows students to read and explore the partnerships and efforts being made to protect and preserve this amazing species and its habitat.
It takes 28 pounds of bamboo to satisfy a giant pandas daily dietary needs, and it hungrily plucks the stalks with elongated wrist bones that function rather like thumbs. Panda facts for kids, books, crafts, videos, and learning. Despite being taxonomically a carnivore, the panda has a diet that is overwhelmingly herbivorous. The author explains how the giant panda got its name, what it eats, and why it doesnt hibernate. Giant panda facts for kids fun facts and information. The giant panda, with its black and white fur and black eye patches, is a very distinctive animal. A typical animal eats half the daya full 12 out of every 24 hoursand relieves itself dozens of times a day. The population of giant pandas important facts and figures. They live in cool, humid and relatively high mountains with dense bamboo. A cute cartoon panda acts as a guide on several pages. Pdf reconsideration of giant pandas endangered threat level.
Although for a number of decades there was some controversy over whether the panda was actually a bear at all, the recent consensus is that the panda is, in fact, all bear. The giant panda s scientific name is ailuropoda melanoleuca, which means black and white catfoot. Ask children to design a leaflet about one, or several, of the organisations mentioned in the resource that help to rescue, rehabilitate and release giant pandas or a breeding centre that helps to increase panda population numbers. They can also consume 45 pounds of bamboo shoots in one day. The text is ageappropriate and even includes a bit of phonetically explained chinese. Dec 18, 2015 beyond being photogenic, the giant panda inhabits some interesting traits. As about all a panda does all day is to eat and sleep, you are best to get up early for a visit to a panda park, so you see them when they are active. At birth, panda cubs weigh only about as much as a quarterpound stick of butter 90 grams and have little fur. Students gain knowledge about a giant pandas habitat, diet, description, and playful nature. Giant panda bear facts panda bear, giant panda bear, giant. Giant panda facts and pictures national geographic kids. Pdf the giant panda was once widely distributed in china, parts of burma, vietnam, and thailand. Giant panda cub bei bei to debut in january december 18, 2015. Mar 06, 2018 giant panda habitat giant panda facts panda facts for kids giant panda endangered panda habitat the giant panda panda bear facts interesting facts about pandas.
The giant panda is also known as the panda bear, bamboo bear, or in chinese as daxiongmao, the large bear cat. An adult giant panda can grow as tall as five feet and they can weigh as much as 350 pounds. It lives in south central china although it belongs to the order carnivora, the panda s diet is 99% bamboo. Pdf status and conservation of giant panda ailuropoda. Its striking coat of black and white, combined with a bulky body and round face, gives it a captivating appearance that has endeared it to people worldwide. The giant panda oxford university museum of natural history. The sichuan giant panda sanctuary includes more than 30% of the.
Despite adaptations in the forepaws, teeth, and jaws for bamboo consumption, the giant panda has retained the digestive system of its carnivore ancestry and is therefore unable to digest cellulose, a main. The giant panda in general is not an extremely social animal outside of breeding. Although scientists have debated for years about this one giant panda fact, recent dna research has proved that the giant panda really is a true bear. It is characterised by large, black patches around its eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. The giant panda has long been a favorite of the public, at least partly on account of the fact that the species has an. The giant panda has an unusual paw, with a thumb and five fingers. The giant panda is a conservationreliant vulnerable species. In the wild, the giant pandas sleep for 2 to 4 hours between its two meals. Threats habitat loss and fragmentation are the most pressing threats to the giant panda. Wwfs founders were aware of the need for a strong, recognizable symbol that would overcome all language barriers. This book presents information about giant pandas through the story of tian tian, a giant panda born in china that currently lives in the united states. They can also bite through bamboo stalks that are so thick that humans have a hard time cutting them with an axe.
The following are brief introduction about the specific facts of giant pandas. Aug 01, 2017 the population of giant pandas important facts and figures. The giant panda is one of the worlds eight species of true bears. Giant pandas are identified by their distinctive black and white coloring.
551 1033 586 786 767 797 1455 502 655 33 969 1083 1159 399 513 1435 752 1184 247 1000 796 556 158 510 185 26 1286 577 1053 26 235 1353 1444 1189 550 1138 599 60 216 994 1385 1018 18 951 987 1439 1226 473 1081