# Giant Panda (*Ailuropoda melanoleuca*) Giant pandas are cute bears with black and white fur. They love to eat bamboo all day long and are great climbers. These gentle giants live in the mountains of China. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions - **Also known as:** Bamboo Bear, Panda ![Giant Panda](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424834/objects/6115.jpg) ## Appearance The Giant Panda is easily recognizable with its thick, woolly black and white fur. It has a distinctive black patch around each eye, black ears, and black legs, with a white body and head. This unique coloring helps them camouflage in snowy and rocky mountain environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Ursidae - **Genus:** Ailuropoda ## Interesting facts - A newborn panda cub is smaller than a stick of butter! - Despite their size, pandas are excellent swimmers and enjoy splashing around. - Pandas have huge molar teeth, perfect for grinding tough bamboo into mush. - They often do a handstand while peeing to mark their territory higher up! ## Special abilities - **Bamboo Master:** Giant Pandas have a specialized 'pseudo-thumb' bone that helps them grip and strip bamboo stalks with incredible skill. - **Silent Climber:** Giant Pandas can climb trees easily using their strong claws, which helps them escape predators or find comfy resting spots. - **Cold Conqueror:** Giant Pandas have a thick, woolly coat that keeps them warm in the chilly, high-altitude mountain forests. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 120-190 cm - **Weight:** 70-150 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 32 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 95-160 days ## Diet & Feeding Mostly eats bamboo, but sometimes adds other plants and small animals to its diet. - **Primary Foods:** Bamboo shoots, Bamboo leaves, Bamboo stems, Roots, Fruits, Small rodents - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Robust Fargesia Bamboo (*Fargesia robusta*) — Bulk of its diet, especially shoots and leaves. - **Eaten by:** Grey Wolf (*Canis lupus*) — Can prey on sick or young pandas. - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Historic predator of panda cubs. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Protected](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/protected): Protected status signifies a species or area is safeguarded by legal measures and conservation efforts to prevent harm or loss. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always observe pandas from a safe distance and never try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Giant Panda? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Giant Panda? 120-190 cm ### How much does Giant Panda weigh? 70-150 kg ### How long does Giant Panda live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Giant Panda move? 32 km/h ### What does Giant Panda eat? Mostly eats bamboo, but sometimes adds other plants and small animals to its diet. ### Where is Giant Panda usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Giant Panda hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [National Zoological Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/national-zoological-park) — District of Columbia, US · Zoo - [Madrid Zoo Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/madrid-zoo-aquarium) — Spain, ES · Aquarium - [Pairi Daiza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pairi-daiza) — Hainaut, BE · Zoo - [San Diego Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-diego-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [Zoo Atlanta](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-atlanta) — Georgia, US · Zoo - [Zoo Berlin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Giant Panda](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/giant-panda) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Giant Panda: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-panda)