Giant Panda

Ailuropoda melanoleuca

Vulnerable

Location

Central China

Size

1.2-1.9 meters (4-6 feet) long

Diet

Herbivore

Habitat

Bamboo forests in mountains

About This Animal

The giant panda is one of the world's most beloved and recognizable animals. Despite being classified as a carnivore, pandas have evolved to eat almost exclusively bamboo, spending 12-16 hours a day eating to meet their nutritional needs.

Amazing Facts

Eats 26-84 pounds of bamboo per day

Has a pseudo-thumb to help grip bamboo stalks

Cubs are born pink, blind, and about the size of a stick of butter

Can live up to 30 years in captivity

Has one of the most restrictive diets of any mammal