Giant Panda

Characterised by a rotund body and white coat with black patches over the eyes, ears, and limbs, the Giant Panda is a bear endemic to China. Adults generally weigh between 100 and 115 kg and reach lengths of 1.2 to 1.9 m. Their distinctive fur serves as camouflage in both summer and winter, as they do not hibernate. While the white areas blend with snow, the black shoulders and legs provide concealment in the shade.

Today, these bears live in fragmented populations across six mountainous regions, primarily in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu. They inhabit old-growth forests and montane regions at elevations up to 3,000 m. Though they are solitary animals that only gather for brief breeding seasons between March and May, they communicate year-round using scent marks on trees and rocks. Females raise their cubs alone for up to two years.

Despite their taxonomic classification as carnivorans, bamboo makes up approximately 99% of their diet. To compensate for the low energy content of this food, an adult giant panda eats 9 to 14 kg of bamboo shoots per day. They even possess a modified bone in the paw that acts like a thumb to help them hold the stalks. The species faces significant threats from habitat loss due to farming, deforestation, and the construction of roads. They are also susceptible to climate change and diseases from livestock or domestic pets.