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Post by brobear on Mar 27, 2017 7:44:19 GMT -5
discovermagazine.com/2008/aug/05-could-pandas-be-an-evolutionary-mistake2014or-proof-of-an-intelligent-designer The recent death of Ling-Ling, the only giant panda owned by Japan, sent the world into mourning. Everything about these giant teddy bears—their squat, furry bodies, their sad black eyes, their especially vulnerable babies (often compared to sticks of butter)—makes them ridiculously, scientifically cute. This, along with their dire status as a species, makes them a powerful symbol for the conservation movement as a whole. But there’s another side of the panda’s tale. Pandas have been ridiculed for their decidedly non-bearlike vegetarian diets, their apparent lack of interest in—and aptitude for—sex, their tendency to spend the majority of their time sitting, eating, scratching (video), and defecating (about 40 times per day)—even for being, shall we say, plump. These rather "unfit" characteristics have made the giant panda a favorite animal of creationists, who argue that the panda’s survival proves the existence of God. How is it, they ask, that such a species could have "evolved" to be so poorly suited for survival and could have lasted these "alleged" tens of thousands of years without a little help from a higher power? Vegetarians One of the panda's curious adaptations is its remarkably inefficient diet. Like other bears, and like omnivores and carnivores, pandas have short digestive systems, making them ill suited for their preferred diet of fibrous, nutrient-poor bamboo. To obtain sufficient nutrients, pandas must eat almost a fourth of their weight in bamboo every day. Pandas also favor young bamboo sprouts, which have even less nutrition; if they eat only these, they must chomp down almost half of their weight daily. But according to Megan Owen, a conservation specialist at the San Diego Zoo, there is a possible evolutionary explanation for the panda's seemingly foolish preference for bamboo: lack of competition. When pandas split off from the bear lineage about 3 million years ago, tasty and nutritious cuisine like meat, fruit, and nuts may have been difficult to obtain while bamboo was ubiquitous—a wide-open ecological niche. So there were two choices: Exert some serious effort to get the good stuff, or munch away on a seemingly inexhaustible supply of woody grasses. The panda accommodated its vegetarianism with a few physical adaptations—enlarged chewing muscles (those adorable jowls), their famous "thumbs," and a slightly modified digestive system (though still far more similar to a carnivore's than to an herbivore's). But the most notable adaptations were behavioral. Pandas must minimize energy expenditure in every aspect of their lives: limiting locomotion and mating periods, having a low surface area-to-volume ratio (i.e., being fat) to conserve heat, and sleeping as much as possible. Energy conservation also explains their endearingly tiny and helpless young: According to Lisa Stevens of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, it is much more efficient to give birth to very small, undeveloped cubs and raise them externally on milk than to expend energy on their development internally. Sex The biggest argument for the intelligent design crowd is the panda’s mating habits. If natural selection drives the formation of species, how did an animal that needs porn, Viagra, and sexercise to mate ever make it? Pandas, IDists believe, are up against some serious hurdles when it comes to having sex: The male penis is disproportionately small, females seldom go into heat, and males do not instinctively know how to mate, among other problems.
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Post by brobear on Mar 27, 2017 7:48:50 GMT -5
I view the panda bear as one of many examples of the survival skills of bears. When meat and easy-to-digest plants became too scarce, this bear, against all odds, learned to eat bamboo. The panda bear ranks right up there with the polar bear and the Gobi bear as super-survivors.
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Apr 19, 2017 20:24:20 GMT -5
Post by brobear on Apr 19, 2017 20:24:20 GMT -5
nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/giant-panda Native to central China, giant pandas have come to symbolize vulnerable species. As few as 1,864 giant pandas live in their native habitat, while another 300 pandas live in zoos and breeding centers around the world. The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is a leader in giant panda conservation. Ever since these charismatic bears arrived at the Zoo in 1972, animal care staff and scientists have studied giant panda biology, behavior, breeding, reproduction, and disease. These experts are also leading ecology studies in giant panda's native habitat. The Zoo's giant panda team works closely with colleagues in China to advance conservation efforts around the world. Tips for Visiting the Giant Pandas Depending on the time and the weather, the giant pandas have a choice to be outside or inside the panda house. The pandas typically have outdoor access until early afternoon. The panda house, an indoor viewing area, is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Early arrival is recommended to avoid large crowds and long lines. Long lines require earlier cut-off times to ensure those waiting can enter the panda house before it closes. Please note that all of the Zoo's animals have the option to enjoy some time away from the crowds. If the pandas are not on view, they may be spending time in an enclosure behind-the-scenes. Flash photography and video with handheld devices are permitted inside the panda house. For the safety of our visitors, the use of tripods is prohibited. Physical Description The giant panda, a black-and-white bear, has a body typical of bears. It has black fur on its ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs, and shoulders. The rest of the animal's coat is white. Although scientists do not know why these unusual bears are black and white, some speculate that the bold coloring provides effective camouflage. In patches of dense bamboo, an immobile giant panda is nearly invisible, and virtually disappears among snow covered rocky outcrops on a mountain slope. This theory does not work, however, when considering that giant pandas have no natural enemies to hide from. Another thought is that the pattern may accentuate social signals in some way, or help giant pandas to identify one another from a distance so they can avoid socializing, as they are typically a solitary animal. Another theory suggests that the black absorbs heat while the white reflects it, helping giant pandas maintain an even temperature. Unfortunately, there is no one conclusive theory as to why giant pandas are black and white. The giant panda has lived in bamboo forests for several million years. It is a highly specialized animal, with unique adaptations. The panda's thick, wooly coat keeps it warm in the cool forests of its habitat. Giant pandas have large molar teeth and strong jaw muscles for crushing tough bamboo. Many people find these chunky, lumbering animals to be cute, but giant pandas can be as dangerous as any other bear. Size About the size of an American black bear, giant pandas stand between 2 and 3 feet (60 to 90 centimeters) tall at the shoulder (on all four legs), and reach 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) long. Males are larger than females, weighing up to 250 pounds (113 kilograms) in the wild. Females rarely reach 220 pounds (104 kilograms). Native Habitat Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. They once lived in lowland areas, but farming, forest clearing, and other development now restrict giant pandas to the mountains. Giant pandas live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a dense understory of bamboo, at elevations between 5,000 and 10,000 feet. Torrential rains or dense mist throughout the year characterizes these forests, often shrouded in heavy clouds. Communication Giant pandas do not exhibit body characteristics that communicate visual signals. They have round, inexpressive faces. Their tails are stubs and therefore cannot flag signals to other giant pandas. They have no crest or mane to erect and their ears are not flexible enough to cock forward or flatten. It is thought that giant pandas never developed these visual accessories due in part to their habitat and solitary nature. Giant pandas live in dense, fog-enshrouded stands of bamboo that obstruct a direct line of sight and any potential visual communications. Giant pandas do occasionally vocalize when playing. During mating, they become very vocal, relying on extremely detailed vocalizations to express all shades of mood from amorous to angry. Most of their communication is accomplished through scent marking throughout their habitat and territory. Giant pandas mark their territory by rubbing secretions from their anal glands onto tree trunks, rocks, or on the ground, usually along paths that they habitually tread. Scent marking alerts giant pandas in the vicinity to one another, and depending on who reads the mark, the scents may either separate giant pandas or help bring them together. Outside of breeding season, a scent mark that is unfamiliar is usually enough to send a potential intruder ambling away. During breeding season, however, a female's scent mark advertises her sexual readiness and draws males to her. A female is more likely to accept a male whose scent she recognizes and has encountered before. Food/Eating Habits Millions of Zoo visitors enjoy watching giant pandas eat. A panda usually eats while sitting upright, in a pose that resembles how humans sit on the floor. This posture leaves the front paws free to grasp bamboo stems with the help of a "pseudo thumb," formed by an elongated and enlarged wrist bone covered with a fleshy pad of skin. The panda also uses its powerful jaws and strong teeth to crush the tough, fibrous bamboo into bits. A giant panda's digestive system is more similar to that of a carnivore than an herbivore, and so much of what is eaten is passed as waste. To make up for the inefficient digestion, a panda needs to consume a comparatively large amount of food—from 20 to 40 pounds of bamboo each day—to get all its nutrients. To obtain this much food means that a panda must spend 10 to 16 hours a day foraging and eating. The rest of its time is spent mostly sleeping and resting. Social Structure Adult giant pandas may be generally solitary, they do communicate periodically through scent marks, calls, and occasional meetings. Recent research has also found that giant pandas may form communities of seven to 15 individuals within the local population. These individuals occupy a "group" territory, within which male home ranges overlap almost completely while female home ranges overlap far less. Members of different "groups" generally avoid socializing with each other. Offspring stay with their mothers from one and a half to three years. Reproduction and Development Giant pandas reach breeding maturity between four and eight years of age. They may be reproductive until about age 20. Female pandas ovulate only once a year, in the spring. A short period of two to three days around ovulation is the only time she is able to conceive. Calls and scents draw males and females to each other. Female giant pandas give birth between 95 and 160 days after mating. Although females may give birth to two young, usually only one survives. Giant panda cubs may stay with their mothers for up to three years before striking out on their own. This means a wild female, at best, can produce young only every other year; in her lifetime, she may successfully raise only five to eight cubs. The giant pandas' naturally slow breeding rate prevents a population from recovering quickly from illegal hunting, habitat loss, and other human-related causes of mortality. At birth, the cub is helpless, and it takes considerable effort on the mother's part to raise it. A newborn cub weighs three to five ounces and is about the size of a stick of butter. Pink, hairless, and blind, the cub is 1/900th the size of its mother. Except for a marsupial (such as the kangaroo or opossum), a giant panda baby is the smallest mammal newborn relative to its mother's size. Cubs do not open their eyes until they are six to eight weeks of age and are not mobile until three months. A cub may nurse for eight to nine months. A cub is nutritionally weaned at one year, but not socially weaned for up to two years. Sleep Habits In the wild, giant pandas typically nap between feedings for two to four hours at a time, snoozing on their side, back, or belly, either sprawled or curled up. While a giant panda is resting, it continues to defecate. The number of droppings at a rest site can be used to gauge the relative amount of time a giant panda spent at that site. During a short rest of less than two hours, there are five to ten droppings. Eleven to 25 droppings often accompany rests lasting longer than two hours. Most rest periods are two to four hours in duration but may increase to six or more hours during the summer months. Lifespan Scientists aren't sure how long giant pandas live in the wild, but they are sure it's shorter than lifespans in zoos. Chinese scientists have reported zoo pandas as old as 35. The Smithsonian National Zoo's Hsing-Hsing died at age 28 in 1999.
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Post by brobear on Apr 19, 2017 20:26:41 GMT -5
Giant Panda Summary Facts
Chinese: ‘big-bear-cat’ (大熊猫 dàxióngmāo /dah-sshyong-maow/) Class: mammal (mammalia) Order: carnivore (carnivora) Family: bear (ursidae) Genus: cat-foot (Ailuropoda) Species: black-and-white (melanoleuca) Size: up to 0.75m tall, 1.5m long (2.5 ft tall, 5 ft long) Weight: up to 150 kg (330 lb) Life span: 15 to 20 years in the wild (up to 30 years in captivity) Reproduction: one cub per two years; mating in spring, born late summer.
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Post by brobear on Nov 17, 2018 6:14:33 GMT -5
www.chinahighlights.com/giant-panda/characteristics.htm Giant Pandas Characteristics and Appearance Giant pandas are one of the cutest animals in the world. They have a distinctive black and white appearance. They are good climbers and can also swim. They don't build dens like other bears (except to put cubs in) or hibernate. Want to learn more about the giant panda's characteristics? Read on… Giant pandas have a distinctive appearance. Their thick black and white fur equips them for life in cool forests. Their white coat with black markings is unique, with black patches round the eyes and ears, black legs, and a black band around the shoulders. And they have cute white tails. They Have "Cat-Like" Pupils — For Seeing Well at Night They have good geographical memory, hearing, and sense of smell, but their sight is poor. However, they have cat-like pupils, so they can still see adequately to move around at night. Giant Pandas Have Strong Teeth Giant Panda, Chengdu Giant pandas start to grow permanent teeth as they gradually draw to 7 months old. Their back teeth are about seven times the size of a human's, with a wide surface area. The powerful jaw bones and strong teeth of giant pandas help them crush and grind bamboo. Their Paws Have Six "Fingers"! Giant pandas' paws have five "fingers" facing forward and one "thumb" — an enlarged bone at the heel of the paw used for gripping bamboo, climbing trees, etc. Giant panda, Chengdu giant panda breeding center Grown pandas are about 75 cm (2½ ft) tall and 1.5 meters (5 ft) long (see the diagram showing a man and a giant panda). They weigh up to 150 kg (330 lb) in captivity. Females are smaller, weighing up to 125 kg (275 lb) in captivity. Body length: 120–180cm (47–71") Shoulder height: 54–81cm (21–32") Hip height: 52–77cm (20–30") Chest girth: 70–106cm (28–42") Hind leg length: 12–20cm (5–8") Tail length: 10–20cm (4–8") Wild giant panda weight: 60–110 kg (132–243 lb) Captive giant panda weight: 80–150 kg (176––330 lb) Life expectancy in the wild: 20 years Life expectancy in captivity: 30+ years (oldest recorded 36 years) Bamboo is the favorite food of giant pandas, which accounts for 99% of their diet. The bamboos consumed by giant pandas in their current habitats are classified into 40 kinds in 9 genera. Wild giant pandas hunt small animals such as mice once in a while. To ensure ample nutrition, giant pandas in captivity are also fed fruits and well-selected feeds, which are made from corn, soybean, wheat, etc. When you visit a zoo you will likely find that the pandas are sleeping. Actually it spends half its day eating and the other half sleeping. You may see them lying flat, on one side, on their stomach; forelegs stretched out, or huddled up. While they are sleeping, they still look very cute.
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Post by brobear on Nov 17, 2018 6:17:25 GMT -5
I would love it if someone could ( and would ) post the picture/chart titled: Giant Pandas Characteristics from site above - right here.
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Post by King Kodiak on Nov 17, 2018 6:28:37 GMT -5
We could say that the Panda is the cutest bear by far. I think we can all agree there.
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Post by King Kodiak on Nov 18, 2018 3:57:19 GMT -5
Panda's natural enemies Giant pandas face very few predators A fully grown panda is far too formidable a foe for most predators, but some animals can prey on cubs. Potential predators include jackals, snow leopards and yellow-throated martens, all of which are capable of killing and eating panda cubs. Indeed, the 2008 animated blockbuster Kung Fu Panda tells the story of Po, a panda who is an apprentice noodle-maker and kung-fu fanatic, and whose greatest enemy is Tai Lung: a fierce kung-fu fighting snow leopard. In real life, snow leopards, which are also endangered, share some of the same habitats as the black and white bears and pose a threat to young pandas. wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/giant_panda/panda/kung_fu_panda_enemies_defences/
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Post by brobear on Nov 19, 2018 2:50:50 GMT -5
www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/vegetarian-panda-eats-meat-photos.html Giant Vegetarian Panda Eats Meat (Photos) Never say never. Pandas eat bamboo shoots and leaves. And sometimes a little meat, scientists say. But a picture of a panda eating meat is rare. So check it out: A panda eating a meal of takin, aka Himalayan goat-antelope. The picture, shared by The Nature Conservancy, was captured by motion-sensor cameras in northern Sichuan, China. Thankfully, the Giant panda here didn't hunt and kill the takin. That wouldn't be very vegetarian of him, or her. The meat is the carcass of a takin that died several days before due to natural causes, Conservancy reps say. Takins, like pandas, are endangered. Here's a live one. The panda seen in the meat photos is living in what will be the Motianling County Land Trust Reserve, a project of the Conservancy, Peking University and local government partners. It's the country's first Land Trust Reserve, and "one of the most important remaining pieces of giant panda habitat left in the world," Conservancy scientists say. It goes to show there's still a lot we don't know about pandas and their behavior, says Zhao Peng, who's leading the Motianling project for the Conservancy. Apparently, they used to be carnivores, but evolved into herbivores. We probably should protect them in places like this. This reserve is one of the last places on Earth you'll find these endangered pandas living in the wild. Here, there are about 20. In China, about 2,000.
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Post by King Kodiak on Nov 19, 2018 6:06:07 GMT -5
As soon as i started reading your news, i was like “what? Did the panda kill the antelope?” Then i realized he just found it.
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May 17, 2019 2:48:32 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on May 17, 2019 2:48:32 GMT -5
Giant Pandas' Lazy Lifestyle Justified by Science Giant pandas have an insatiable hankering for bamboo, but scientists have long wondered how the bears survive on such a fibrous and low-nutrient plant. Now, a new study finds that giant pandas have clever ways to conserve energy, including having lazy lifestyles, small organs and special genes. The researchers followed five captive and three wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) for about a year. By using GPS trackers and analyzing chemicals excreted in the pandas' poop, they were able to measure the amount of energy the pandas spent each day. Surprisingly, the pandas expended only about 38 percent of the energy that an animal with the same body mass would require. "We thought the metabolism of the panda would be low because the bamboo diet contains low energy," said senior author Fuwen Wei, a professor of zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. "But it is very surprising that it is this exceptionally low, equal to the three-toed sloth, and much lower than the koala." The only known mammals that have a lower daily energy usage than the giant panda are the Australian rock rat (Zyzomys argurus), which spends 21 percent of its expected energy per day, and the golden mole (Eremitalpa namibensis), which spends 26 percent of its expected energy per day, the researchers wrote in the study. However, while it's unknown how the rock rat and golden mole conserve energy, the researchers found several ways that pandas save calories. For starters, the GPS recordings showed that pandas are a lazy bunch; they don't move a lot, and when they do, they move slowly. Captive pandas spent just a third of their time, and wild pandas about half of their time, moving around, the researchers found. Furthermore, wild pandas forage at an average speed of 50 feet (15.5 meters) an hour, a rate that is "very low," the researchers wrote in the study. The researchers also reviewed giant panda autopsy data, and found that relative to their size, the animals have a smaller brain, liver and kidneys than other bears. These small organs likely require less energy to function, saving the pandas precious calories, the researchers said. Finally, the research team looked at the giant panda's thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism. A hormone sample taken from the captive pandas showed that levels of two thyroid hormones — thyroxine and triiodothyronine — were about half of what is seen in mammals with the same body mass, the researchers found. In fact, these hormone levels were even lower than those seen in hibernating black bears (Ursus americanus), they said. Interestingly, giant pandas have thyroid hormone levels comparable to the gray seal (Halichoerus grypus), which lowers its metabolism while diving to conserve energy, the researchers said. Source: Giant Pandas' Lazy Lifestyle Justified by ScienceCredited to Canine Canis and Ursus21/Gaurus from Carnivora carnivora.net/showthread.php?tid=3338&pid=55885#pid55885
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Jun 5, 2019 22:25:01 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by OldGreenGrolar on Jun 5, 2019 22:25:01 GMT -5
I wonder which bear has the second lowest metabolism after the giant panda?
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Nov 3, 2019 22:00:07 GMT -5
Post by King Kodiak on Nov 3, 2019 22:00:07 GMT -5
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Post by King Kodiak on Nov 4, 2019 19:14:51 GMT -5
Was anyone surprised at the account above? I know i was and still am. First time i see an account of a panda killing any animal. He killed 12 domestic goats and another one killed a peacock.
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Nov 8, 2019 10:26:29 GMT -5
Post by OldGreenGrolar on Nov 8, 2019 10:26:29 GMT -5
Can pandas fight back?
Giant pandas are solitary and peaceful animals, which will usually avoid confrontation, but if escape is impossible, they will certainly fight back.
And as cuddly as they may look, pandas can protect themselves as well as most other bears by using their physical strength, and powerful jaws and teeth.
Pandas can grow up to 1.5m long and weigh as much as 150kg.
And while their large molar teeth and strong jaw muscles are designed for crushing bamboo, they can deliver a very nasty bite.
In addition, giant panda are excellent climbers, with cubs able to clamber up trees when they are just 6 months old.
They can also swim and, unlike most other bears, do not hibernate for months at time during winter.
With all these attributes in their arsenal, fully grown giant pandas can defend themselves against most predators.wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/giant_panda/panda/kung_fu_panda_enemies_defences/
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Nov 8, 2019 12:40:26 GMT -5
Post by brobear on Nov 8, 2019 12:40:26 GMT -5
Quote: They can also swim and, unlike most other bears, do not hibernate for months at time during winter. Neither the giant panda nor the Andean bear hibernate. These are our only living bears not of the genus Ursus. This leads me to believe that hibernation is a unique ability of Ursus bears.
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Nov 8, 2019 17:47:23 GMT -5
Post by King Kodiak on Nov 8, 2019 17:47:23 GMT -5
Quote: They can also swim and, unlike most other bears, do not hibernate for months at time during winter. Neither the giant panda nor the Andean bear hibernate. These are our only living bears not of the genus Ursus. This leads me to believe that hibernation is a unique ability of Ursus bears. Sloth bears dont hibernate either. (Genus Melursus).
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Post by brobear on Nov 9, 2019 1:47:20 GMT -5
Quote: They can also swim and, unlike most other bears, do not hibernate for months at time during winter. Neither the giant panda nor the Andean bear hibernate. These are our only living bears not of the genus Ursus. This leads me to believe that hibernation is a unique ability of Ursus bears. Sloth bears dont hibernate either. (Genus Melursus).This is true. Neither does the sun bear. Even brown bears of warmer climates forgo hibernation; such as the California grizzly and the Mexican grizzly. www.optimumhunting.com/en/hunts/asia/russia/kamchatka-brown-bear-hunting-in-russia Kamchatka Peninsula is famous for its Brown Bears. Kamchatka Brown Bear grows large because of its abundant and protein-rich diet of spawning salmon and other fish in the coastal rivers, and from the comparatively mild climate that permits a shorter period of hibernation. Oh! edit and add: the male polar bear does not hibernate. Besides his diet of almost exclusively blubber, the polar bear forgoes hibernation. Thus his great size.
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Nov 13, 2019 4:14:33 GMT -5
Post by brobear on Nov 13, 2019 4:14:33 GMT -5
I'm not going to attempt to research it right now; but I can remember when it was announced that, from DNA tests, it has been proven that the giant panda is a bear. Before the science of DNA, scientists were ( in pretty-much even numbers ) divided on this issue. Some claimed the giant panda to be a bear while others ( me included ) thought him to be more likely a close relative to the raccoon. I was wrong on this one.
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Dec 31, 2019 18:01:13 GMT -5
Post by brobear on Dec 31, 2019 18:01:13 GMT -5
bearwithus.org/8-bears-of-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR0kx4pDGjKN6r4l6K07C1ahnw_BM7-4Aq0qkx4ygqX9QdxmD8D1F-tysuI 6-Panda Bear – Ailuropoda melanoleuca Length: 5 ft (1.5m) (with a 6 inch(.2m)tail). Weight: Around 250 lbs (113 kg) (males); around 220 lbs (100 kg) (females). The giant panda is a rare, endangered and elusive bear. Science used to believe that the giant panda was a member of the raccoon family. With DNA analyses science proved itself wrong. The giant panda and the red panda are not related. Giant pandas are famous for their love of bamboo, a diet so nutritionally poor that the pandas have to consume up to 20kg each day. The extra digit on the panda’s hand helps them to tear the bamboo and their gut is covered with a thick layer of mucus to protect against splinters. Habitat loss is the greatest cause of the giant panda’s decline, and today their range is restricted to six separate mountain ranges in western China. A giant panda is born pink, hairless, blind and 1/900th the size of its mother. Unlike other bears, giant pandas do not hibernate. In the winter, they move to lower elevations to keep warm, while traveling to higher elevations in the summer to stay cool. They can be active at any time of the day or night. Credits- text- various sources. Photo credits-www.amazing-world-in-free-stock-pictures-and-photos.com.
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