Every animal species has its own behaviors and lifestyle. Among them, the giant panda is often known as one of the rare animals famous for its “lazy” habits. However, beneath this creature lies a wealth of fascinating facts that will astonish us.
Interesting Facts About Giant Pandas
1. Pandas Prefer Solitude
Pandas are solitary animals.
Contrary to the common misconception that pandas prefer to live in groups, these animals actually favor solitude and generally avoid direct contact with their peers. Each year, male and female pandas only meet during the mating season for about 2 to 3 days in spring (from March to May). Afterward, the male bids farewell to the female and returns to enjoy a solitary life until the next mating season.
2. Pandas Eat All the Time
The primary daily diet of pandas consists mainly of bamboo, with occasional fruits. Due to their high-fiber diet, pandas must eat a lot (over 12 hours a day) to obtain enough nutrition to sustain their hefty bodies. Besides eating, they spend the rest of their time resting to regain energy for more eating.
3. Pandas Have a “Pseudo Thumb”
The ‘pseudo thumb’ is actually an enlarged wrist bone.
In reality, a panda’s paw has five digits but lacks a true thumb, having instead a modified digit that functions similarly to a thumb. This “pseudo thumb” is actually an enlarged wrist bone that protrudes from the side of the paw. The muscles controlling the bones in a panda’s paw have been rearranged to allow this false thumb to move and grasp bamboo stalks more easily.
4. Panda Fur Provides Camouflage
Everyone recognizes pandas for their adorable black and white fur. However, this coloration serves a purpose beyond aesthetics. The unique fur pattern of pandas allows them to evade danger by blending into both light and dark backgrounds, especially in bamboo forests.
5. There Are Two Species of Pandas
The primary subspecies of pandas are mainly found in the Sichuan region of China. However, there is also another rare species known as the red panda, which inhabits the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province, China.
The red panda is slightly smaller than the common giant panda and has brown and white fur instead of black and white. Like the giant panda, the red panda is also on the brink of extinction and requires urgent protection.
6. Pandas Belong to the Carnivore Order
Wild pandas sometimes eat grass, wild roots, bird meat, and rodents.
It may sound unbelievable, but despite 99% of a panda’s diet consisting of bamboo, they belong to the carnivore order. On average, an adult panda needs to consume at least 18 kg of bamboo leaves each day.
Wild pandas occasionally eat grass, wild roots, bird meat, rodents, and even carrion. Captive pandas can also eat honey, eggs, fish, carrots, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and various fruits like apples, oranges, or bananas.
7. Newborn Pandas Weigh as Much as a Pencil
Due to their extremely short gestation period of about 135 days, newborn pandas weigh only 80-120 grams. This makes them one of the smallest mammals at birth. Typically, the size of a newborn panda is only about 1/1900th of its mother, while the ratio for most mammals is around 1/26.
At birth, panda cubs cannot open their eyes and require special care from their mothers during the early months of life. Although they have a short gestation period, pandas cannot reproduce quickly like other species, with a reproduction interval of two years. This is also a reason why this species is increasingly endangered and at risk of extinction.
