Giant Panda

By: Joe

Introduction

Somewhere in a zoo in Central China, you find yourself wondering around for a while until you see a big, black & white animal--- the Giant Panda.

Physical Characteristics

This furry big friend’s scientific name is known as Ailuropoda Melancedca meaning Black & White Cat-footed. The name Panda means “Bamboo Eater”. Pandas have special features that most or all other animals don’t have like their black & white color, their gross but cool second thumb called the pseudo formed from a fleshy and bony pad on their paw, their eyes that look like sunglasses, and don’t forget their ability to perfectly walk on ice without slipping because their paw is covered with fur! Pandas are mammals. A male Panda’s average weight is 175 lbs to 250 lbs. A female’s average weight is 25% less. (150 to 225) A male Panda is usually 5 to 6 ft on all four legs and female= 5 to 5 1/2. The male is 4 to 6 ft long and females are 3 to 5 ft long.

Habitat

The Giant Panda lives in Central, Western, Eastern, Southern, and Northern China. It may also live in Shaanxi, Gansu, and Sichuan. They shelter in bamboo forests or rescue/breeding centers. You can also find them by mountains.

Diet

The Giant Panda loves bamboo and can climb up to 1,300 ft in a bamboo tree for food! A Giant Panda can spend up to one hour scratching at a tree to sharpen its claws. A Giant Panda’s diet is 99 percent bamboo and 1 percent of other grasses and herbs or deer musk fawn. A zoo Panda eats things like sweet potatoes, bamboo, carrots, or sugar cane. Could you tell it was an herbivore?

Young

Pandas are mammals so they are born like us. (live) When Giant Pandas are born, they are born pink then turn white. A Giant Panda should reach full size by age three!

Conclusion

The Giant Pandas’ related species are the Brown Bear, Red Panda and Gold Panda. Giant Pandas try to protect themselves with their sharp claws or strong muscles. The Chinese government is trying to preserve the Giant Panda. There are only about 1,600 left in Central China.

Bibliography

Animals In Danger The Giant Panda By Carl Green

Pandas By Donna Grovesnor

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/giant-panda/

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/giantpandas/pandafacts/

https://quizlet.com/latest

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_panda

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