Pandas are bears native to China.
They are known for their distinctive black and white fur.
Pandas belong to the family Ursidae.
These bears have a large head, a heavy body, and short legs.
Pandas have a unique 'thumb' (an enlarged wrist bone) for gripping bamboo.
They are primarily herbivores, with bamboo making up the majority of their diet.
Pandas are skilled climbers and swimmers.
They have a gentle and solitary nature.
Pandas communicate through vocalizations, including bleats, honks, and growls.
They have a keen sense of smell, crucial for finding food and identifying other pandas.
Pandas have a slow reproductive rate, with females being fertile for only a few days each year.
Cubs are born blind, and their fur is initially pink.
Pandas are often used as symbols of conservation efforts.
They were once classified as a member of the raccoon family but are now recognized as bears.
Pandas may spend up to 12 hours a day eating, consuming large amounts of bamboo.
They have an extra digit on their hands that functions like a thumb.
Pandas have a lifespan of around 20 years in the wild and longer in captivity.
They are found in mountainous regions of central China, in bamboo forests.
Pandas may mark their territory with scent glands and urine.
They are known to roll in horse manure to mask their scent from predators.
Pandas have been considered a national treasure in China.
They are an endangered species, facing threats from habitat loss and fragmentation.
Pandas have been used in diplomacy, with China gifting them to other countries.
They are protected by conservation programs and reserves.
Pandas have a 'false thumb' made of an extended wrist bone and a pad of skin and muscle.
They are known for their 'panda bear hug' when reaching around bamboo stems.
Pandas have a bamboo-based diet, but they may also eat small mammals and birds.
They have a relatively low metabolic rate, conserving energy from their diet.
Pandas are excellent tree climbers, using their powerful limbs and sharp claws.
They may face competition with other pandas for bamboo resources.
Pandas have been the focus of scientific research to understand their unique adaptations.
They are an iconic species in global conservation efforts.