By Kate

Giant pandas have an extremely strict energy budget. They travel little and are usually foraging when they do move. Giant pandas can spend hours a day feeding. Bamboo, the main source of pandas' diet (over 99%) is a very poor nutritional source but present all year round. Only about 17% of the nutrients found in the leaves and stalks are extracted. These bears make a trade-off to have a plentiful, easily obtained food source but with low nutritional value. Giant pandas are well-known for their upright feeding position which leaves their forelegs free to handle the bamboo stalks. This species has several special characteristics related to eating bamboo. The extra digit on the panda's hand helps the panda in tearing the bamboo. This adaptation also allows increased dexterity while handling bamboo. The stomach walls are extremely muscular to help digest the woody diet; and the gut is covered with a thick layer of mucus to protect against splinters

Giant Pandas have round heads, stocky bodies, and short tails. The shoulder height is cm. It is well-known for its distinctive black and white markings. The limbs, eyes, ears, and shoulders are all black and the rest of the body is white. In some areas the black actually has a chestnut-red tinge. The dark markings around the eyes may be the reason for these animals' popularity giving them a wide-eyed appearance..

One giant panda lived to an age of about 34 years in captivity but that is unusual. Normal maximum life in captivity is 26 years, surprisingly it is sometimes as much as 30 years. Lifespan in the wild is unknown.

Unlike many other bears, the Giant Panda does not hibernate. However, it will descend to lower elevations during the winter. Giant pandas do not build permanent dens but rather take shelter in trees and caves. They are primarily terrestrial, though good climbers and capable of swimming. This species is mainly solitary except for the breeding season. Mother pandas play with their cubs, but not just to appease the young. Some mothers have actually woken the infant to start to play.

Giant pandas have an extremely strict energy budget. They travel little and are usually foraging when they do move. Giant pandas can spend hours a day eating. Bamboo, the main source of pandas' diet (over 99%) is a very poor nutritional source but present all year round. Only about 17% of the nutrients found in the leaves and stalks are extracted. These bears make a trade-off to have a plentiful, easily obtained food source but with low nutritional value. Giant pandas are well-known for their upright feeding position which leaves their forelegs free to handle the bamboo stalks.

Giant pandas have been hunted for their fur. In recent years the pelt has been considered a valuable sleeping mat; it is comfortable but also believed to have supernatural markings which prevent ghosts and help predict the future through dreams. A panda skin is highly valued--in Japan it can be a price of $176,000. Giant pandas are also popular zoo exhibits. This is wrong because Giant Pandas are already endangered.

We can stop Giant Pandas from becoming extinct by not buying animal products and donating to zoos that have them [which are very rare]. It’s that simple!