panda bears are animals found in China and that delight everyone with the characteristic beauty of their black and white skin. These animals are quite popular all over the world and, due to conservation actions, are showing a current picture of increasing their population. Find out more about panda bears with us, animals who in the past have been threatened with extinction.
panda bear characteristics
Panda bears, also called giant pandas, are animals mammals, i.e, have hair in your body and are able to produce milk to feed their young in early development. Its typical coat has a black and white color pattern, being these animals white, with black limbs, shoulders, ears and region around the eyes.
These animals live in bamboo forests, being that your main food. Initially pandas occurred throughout southern and eastern China, however, the destruction of your habitatcaused them to reduce their place of occurrence. These days, these animals are found in a few remaining forest locations.
Can reach more than 1.20 m tall, and its weight can reach 160 kilos. Despite their large size, pandas they are not big predators, because, as said, they basically feed on bamboo, which is curious since they belong to the order carnivora.
The giant pandas usually live alone. However, during the reproductive period, it is possible to observe males looking for females. In addition, after birth, the puppies stay for a while with their mother. the panda bears can live between 15 and 20 years in its natural habitat.
Read too:Domestic and wild animals - differences and examples
panda bear reproduction
THE reproduction of the panda bear is quite peculiar due mainly to the this animal's short breeding season. Females come into heat only in spring, however, interest in the male is restricted from one to three days. This means that males must seek out females for copulation at exactly this time so that the chance of mating is not lost. During this period the male can look for different females that are in heat.
The giant panda's gestation time is 95 to 160 days, that is, the pregnancy can last a little more than five months, being, therefore, relatively long. In a gestation, the female normally gives birth to only one offspring, which stays with the mother for the first few months. She stops breastfeeding him around 8-9 months of age, and the puppy stays with her until approximately 18 months.
Is panda bear endangered?
The giant panda is an animal that is not extinct. Currently this species is classified, on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species as vulnerable. It is worth noting, however, that its current classification is the result of a series of efforts to ensure the species' survival, with great emphasis on the maintenance of its natural habitat.
Also access: Endangered animals - get to know them and better understand this classification
10 fun facts about the panda bear
The scientific name of the panda bear is Ailuropoda melanoleuca.he is part of the family Ursidae and of order carnivora.
Have you ever wondered what the advantages of a white and black coat are for panda bears? According to a study titled "Why is the giant panda black and white?" (Why is the giant panda black and white?), the reason for this coloring is the camouflage. The white part is important to help them hide in places where there is snow. The black part, in turn, is important for its camouflage in shaded places. In addition, the spots around the eyes and ears can help to recognize individuals and show aggression towards potential predators.
Pandas basically feed on bamboo and, to be able to meet their daily needs, they need to ingest a large amount of this food. Some can eat an incredible 40 kg of bamboo a day. For this, they need a long feeding time that can reach 14 hours a day.
Pandas present strong bite, since eating bamboo is no easy task.
Pandas eat a really large amount of bamboo, so it's common for them to defecate more than 100 times a day.
At birth, pandas have about 200 grams. They are born hairless, toothless and blind.
Pandas are animals that grow very fast. They can gain about two pounds in their first month of life.
Climate changes can negatively affect bamboo forests and, consequently, pandas.
Pandas can live a long period of time in captivity with a life expectancy from 25 to 35 years. It is noteworthy that animals that live in captivity, when placed in their natural habitat, often they do not survive, and may, for example, suffer aggression from other animals present in the wild.
Pandas use their urine to mark territory. They prefer to urinate on trees with wrinkled bark as they help to fix the smell.
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