Probably this animal at least once in his life, but everyone had to see. On TV or in cyberspace, in a zoo or on the pages of popular science magazines. And for many modern children, the panda copanda from the famous anime cartoon is almost the most beloved character.
Have you ever wondered where the panda lives, what is the bear’s habitat, what he prefers to eat, and how long the bear bear the offspring? No?
Then I propose to do this together.
Where does the panda live? general information
First of all, I’ll immediately note that the type of animals that we are used to calling pandas, and they will be discussed in this article, is called big pandas in science. Why? Yes, because, probably, for some it will be a revelation, there is also a red panda, which is much smaller, and in its physique and behavior is more like a fox or a raccoon than a bear.
So, the big panda, which is often called a bamboo bear, belongs to the mammals of the bear family. However, despite its size, by some signs, including a peculiar black and white color, the animal could well be compared with raccoons. Apparently, therefore, it took so long for scientists to classify the creature that was once discovered in the forests of central China (provinces of Tibet and Sichuan).
The Chinese did come up with a different name for him. He is called a cat bear in the Middle Kingdom and is so loved that, starting from the second half of the 20th century, the panda bear has become a revered emblem and symbol of a huge and densely populated country.
Where does the panda live? Habitat features
These rather rare animals are found only in the mountainous regions of central and southern China. These areas are densely covered with moist and cold forests, which is an ideal environment for the growth of bamboo, a favorite treat of a cat-bear.
The area of their habitat can be considered an area of approximately 30 thousand square kilometers. Growing up, each individual gradually acquires its own territory, marking it with marks on the trees. In general, we can say that pandas are fairly isolated mammals that lead a predominantly solitary lifestyle. They rarely invade the ownership of their relatives.
Night is their time! It is at dusk or in impenetrable darkness that they arrange for themselves real bamboo feasts. In the afternoon they prefer to sleep, sitting in the hollow of a large tree or in a secluded place among the rocks.
It should also be noted that, like all bears, pandas can easily stand on their hind legs, examining the terrain, but they quickly get tired and prefer to rest more often.
Where does the panda live? Interesting facts from the life of a bear
There are a lot of such facts, but I will list only those that, from my point of view, turned out to be the most interesting.
- The panda prefers to eat constantly, of course, with the exception of the time intended for sleep.
- The daily diet is a huge amount of food, from which, however, rarely absorbed more than 17%.
- The version that these individuals feed exclusively on bamboo is erroneous. They do not disdain found roots, various forest roots, tree bark, mushrooms, grass and flowers. In very rare cases, the panda can attack other mammals or diversify its diet with freshly caught fish. Honey extracted from wild bees nests is considered a special treat.
- Pregnancy of puberty of five years, less often eight years, panda lasts from 95 to 160 days. As a rule, after this period, one or two babies are born in the female. However, the second, one way or another, is doomed to death, because mothers in most cases care only for the firstborn.
