Giant Panda
The Giant Panda is a large bear found only in China. It’s bold black and white markings and round body give it a rather “cute” appearance - at least relative to other bears - but it has been known to attack humans, although with not nearly with the same frequency as other types of bears.
Giant Pandas are solitary creatures, preferring to remain alone as they roam the forest in search of food, which largely consists of bamboo. Bamboo is low in nutrients, and so in order to obtain enough energy for survival, the Panda on average eats between 20 to 30 pounds of bamboo shoots a day! And it’s body has unique traits that are adaptations based on its diet: for instance, it’s round head is the result of very powerful jaw muscles and large molars that enables it to crush and grind the very hard bamboo stalks.
The Giant Panda is definitely a species threatened by extinction. Continued habitat loss has reduced its numbers to no more than an estimated 3,000 in the wild. Also, it does not reproduce frequently. Conservation efforts are very visible for this bear, as it has always had a high level of popularity with people. Many natural reserves have been dedicated in order to preserve territory in which it can safely live and hopefully reproduce. Also, many Giant Pandas are kept in zoos, which is obviously not the ideal living situation for a wild animal. And they are very costly to maintain in captivity. According to a NY Times article from 2006, the price of maintaining a panda in a zoo is five time more expensive than that of the next animal, which is the elephant.
Giant Pandas are solitary creatures, preferring to remain alone as they roam the forest in search of food, which largely consists of bamboo. Bamboo is low in nutrients, and so in order to obtain enough energy for survival, the Panda on average eats between 20 to 30 pounds of bamboo shoots a day! And it’s body has unique traits that are adaptations based on its diet: for instance, it’s round head is the result of very powerful jaw muscles and large molars that enables it to crush and grind the very hard bamboo stalks.
The Giant Panda is definitely a species threatened by extinction. Continued habitat loss has reduced its numbers to no more than an estimated 3,000 in the wild. Also, it does not reproduce frequently. Conservation efforts are very visible for this bear, as it has always had a high level of popularity with people. Many natural reserves have been dedicated in order to preserve territory in which it can safely live and hopefully reproduce. Also, many Giant Pandas are kept in zoos, which is obviously not the ideal living situation for a wild animal. And they are very costly to maintain in captivity. According to a NY Times article from 2006, the price of maintaining a panda in a zoo is five time more expensive than that of the next animal, which is the elephant.