Companion animals are those that share the same geographic area with a particular species and have complementary or interactive relationships in terms of food, habitat, water sources, or concealment conditions, either temporally or spatially.
Giant pandas in the wild are not solitary creatures; they are accompanied by a range of ecological “partners.” Among the most notable are the golden snub-nosed monkey, the ibex, the red panda, the black bear, the wild boar, the musk deer, the bamboo rat, the macaque, the roe deer, the goral, the green-tailed pheasant, the crimson-bellied tragopan, and the golden pheasant. These animals, like the giant panda, inhabit the high mountains, forests, and grasslands of southwestern China. They are all precious species that share the same natural environment as the giant panda. From a natural historical perspective, they are ancient organisms that have existed for millions of years.
Through long-term coexistence, these species harmoniously share the same region but each maintains its own space. They have specialized roles in terms of nutrition, and their activities vary by day and season. Food acts as a connecting link, forming a relatively stable animal community.