Habitat selection refers to the behavior of choosing a place that best suits one’s survival needs and utilizing the surroundings to facilitate one’s existence. Different species select various environments based on their specific characteristics.
For giant pandas, 99% of their diet consists of bamboo. Because bamboo has limited nutritional value and different growth patterns, pandas must move between bamboo forests at varying elevations to meet their energy needs. Due to climate differences, plants grow at different rates at different altitudes. For example, the bamboo shoots at higher altitudes appear later than those at lower altitudes. In the spring, pandas living in the Qinling Mountains might feed in the lower-altitude bamboo forests of the Bashan region, and in the summer, they migrate to the cooler, higher-altitude bamboo forests of the Qinling Mountains to find fresh bamboo shoots. This migration between different elevations is known as “bamboo shoot migration.”
Besides foraging, pandas also migrate while searching for mates and territories, often covering long distances. During migration, to replenish their energy quickly, pandas prefer to travel through bamboo forests. Dense bamboo forests can be inconvenient for pandas to navigate due to their large bodies. Furthermore, overly dense bamboo forests may have thin bamboo, poor growth, and reduced nutritional value, making the bamboo less palatable for pandas.
Giant pandas favor pristine forests, such as moderately dense deciduous broadleaf forests, mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests, and subalpine coniferous forests. The bamboo in these forests is not too sparse or too dense. Ideally, the habitat should be near a water source to ensure the bamboo grows thick, tall, and with adequate moisture. Pandas prefer to live in sunny or semi-shaded areas of gently sloping forest floors. If pristine forests are unavailable, pandas may opt for secondary forests or plantations that have been established for over 30 years. Regardless of the forest type, pandas tend to avoid areas with human and livestock activities.
Once they find a suitable habitat, giant pandas will live there. Their home range typically spans from 1 to 60 square kilometers. This variation is due in part to their ongoing migrations and seasonal search for different types of bamboo.
Records of Giant Panda Migration Routes
Records based on radio collars and infrared cameras installed in panda habitats have documented migration routes for giant pandas. For instance, a panda named Zhang Xiang started its journey from the Dahuangshan area of the Li Zi Ping Natural Reserve in Sichuan. It traveled to the nearby village of Shangli in the Cangluo Township near National Highway 108, passed through Jizi Ping and Zima Kua, and ultimately reached the Yuer Ping area of the Ye Le Natural Reserve, demonstrating migration across different populations and reserves.
Other Animals That Migrate for Food
Aside from giant pandas, various animals migrate to find food. For example:
- Wildebeests: Located in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, wildebeests migrate annually. In June, during the early season, water and grass become scarce in the Serengeti. Wildebeests then cross the Mara River to the Masai Mara grasslands, which are lush during this period. By October, when the Masai Mara experiences drought, they return to the Serengeti as it enters its rainy season.
- Zebras and Gazelles: These animals also partake in the migration alongside wildebeests, moving in large herds to follow the availability of fresh grass and water.