Panda

Pandas are some of the most adorable animals in the world! With their fluffy black-and-white coats and playful nature, they’ve stolen the hearts of people everywhere.

Scientific Classification

• Scientific Name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca

• Family: Ursidae (Bear family)

• Class: Mammalia (Mammals)

Common Names

• Giant Panda

• Panda Bear

• Bamboo Bear

 Where do pandas live?

Pandas are found in the mountain forests of China, especially in:

• Sichuan

• Shaanxi

• Gansu provinces

They like cool, wet forests filled with bamboo, their favorite food.

 What do they look like?

• Color: Black and white fur

• Size: About 1.5 meters tall when standing

• Weight: 70–120 kg (some reach 160 kg)

• Eyes: Surrounded by black patches, like sunglasses.

• Ears and legs: Also black

They’re built like bears but act very differently.

 What do pandas eat?

• Main diet: Bamboo (almost 99%!)

• They eat for up to 14 hours a day.

• Sometimes they eat:

  • Fruits

  • Eggs

  • Small animals (rarely)

Types of Pandas

1. Giant Panda

The most famous panda in the world.

 Facts:

• Lives only in China

• Mostly eats bamboo

• Very gentle and shy

• Can climb trees

 Image showing a giant Panda eating bamboo (Source: iStock)

2. Red panda (not actually a bear!)

Smaller, reddish-brown, and more like a raccoon.
Lives in the Himalayas and China.

Image showing a red Panda resting in a tree (Source: iStock)

 Fun facts about pandas

• Baby pandas are born pink and hairless.

• They roll, slide, and play, even adults.

• Pandas have a special wrist bone that acts like a thumb for holding bamboo.

• They can live up to 20 years in the wild and 30 years in zoos.

• A group of pandas is called an embarrassment (but they’re never embarrassing to us).

Panda health (in captivity)

Pandas in zoos are cared for very carefully.
Common health checks focus on:

• Teeth and gums (bamboo can be tough)

• Weight and digestion

• Joint health (pandas can get arthritis as they age)

• Stress levels (they’re shy and private animals)

Veterinarians use cameras and gentle handling to keep them healthy.

 Threats to Pandas

Though pandas are loved worldwide, they still face danger.

 Main threats:

• Deforestation

• Climate change

• Habitat loss

• Low reproduction rate

 Conservation Status

• Giant Panda Status: Vulnerable

• Only about 1,800 left in the wild

• Protected by Chinese law

• Breeding programs in zoos help keep the species alive

China has many panda conservation centers. Pandas are now a symbol of wildlife protection.

Pandas and Humans

• Pandas are national treasures in China

• They help attract tourists

• Loved in books, cartoons, and movies

• They teach us how important it is to protect animals and forests

 Related Species

• Closest relatives: Bears (like the black bear)

• Distant relatives: Raccoons (for red panda)

Image of panda cub playing with a toy (Source: Laughing Squid).

At Doctor Hulk Veterinary Hospital, we care about all animals. You can reach out to us or call 08143397614.