Giant pandas evolved from early bears to what are now recognized as giant pandas. Due to their unique characteristics that blend bear-like and non-bear-like traits, there has been ongoing debate about their taxonomic classification since they were named in 1869. This discussion continues, awaiting further research.
Currently, most scholars classify the giant panda as follows:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Ursidae
- Subfamily: Ailuropodinae
Do You Know About Giant Pandas?
Giant pandas have a plump, soft body with a rounded head, thick neck, small ears, and a short tail. Their limbs are relatively sturdy, and their distinctive black eye patches make them look like they are wearing sunglasses, adding to their charm. Despite their ancestors being carnivorous, giant pandas primarily eat bamboo. An adult giant panda consumes about 12-18 kilograms of bamboo daily.
However, their teeth and digestive tract still resemble those of carnivores, which is why they are classified as carnivores.
Breeding in Wild Giant Pandas
The breeding season for wild giant pandas occurs in April and May. Most female giant pandas search for tree hollows or rock crevices to use as “maternity rooms” during early pregnancy. They typically give birth to 1-2 cubs per litter. If twins are born, the mother often neglects or rejects the weaker cub to ensure at least one survives. Giant pandas are naturally premature; newborns are pink, with sparse white fur, and weigh around 120 grams—about 0.1% of an adult’s weight. By one month, they weigh around 2 kilograms, and by three months, they reach 5-6 kilograms. The mother holds and gently licks her cubs. By five or six months old, the cubs are taught skills like climbing trees, swimming, bathing, and bamboo stripping. Giant pandas are solitary animals; cubs typically leave their mothers at two or three years old to live independently.
Distribution of Giant Pandas
Approximately one million years ago, giant pandas were widespread across eastern and central China, extending into Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Today, their numbers are very limited, making them a precious “living fossil” for evolutionary studies.
Currently, giant pandas are found mainly in the mountainous regions of Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi provinces in China, including the Qinling, Min, Qionglai, and Liangshan mountain ranges. They are extremely rare and solitary, preferring to live alone, eat, and sleep. They do not have fixed residences and often move with the changing seasons. In spring, they stay in high-altitude bamboo forests above 3,000 meters. In summer, they migrate to the shady slopes with tender bamboo shoots. In autumn, they move to warmer, sunny slopes around 2,500 meters to prepare for the long winter.
