Panda

Henrik Toppola, Silja Rainio ja Kia Eskola

=Common knowledge=

Panda is a bear which lives mainly in bamboo forests in the mountains of western China. It has two unique physical features: wide, flat molar teeth and extended wrist bone that operates as an opposable thumb. These physical qualities help the panda to hold, crush and eat bamboo. 99 percent of panda's diet consists of bamboos. Wild pandas eat grasses, wild tubers or even meat, e.g. birds, rodents and carrions. Adult pandas weigh about 100-150 kilos, males are usually 10 % larger and 20 % heavier than females. They are about 150 cm long from nose to rump with a 10-15 cm long tail. The panda normally lives about 20 years in the wild and up to 30 years in captivity. The pandas have located in a few mountain ranges in central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Farming, forest clearing and other improvement have forced them to the mountains. They have been driven out of the lowland areas where they once lived. The current panda population is about 1600. The green color indicates the places were pandas live. =Behavior=

The giant panda spends a lot of time roaming and feeding in the bamboo forests. An adult panda has a defined territory and females don´t tolerate other females in their range. Pandas use vocalization and scent marking as a way of communication. Pandas don´t hibernate because they don´t establish permanent dens. Instead they take shelter in hollow trees and rock vices. They don´t really rely on visual memory as they use the so called spatial memory. The females raise cubs by themselves because the males leave them alone after mating. =Diet=

Pandas eat almost entirely leaves,stems and different kinds of bamboo. That´s why pandas have to eat 12-38 kg every day so that they can get their energy needs. Pandas have a carnivores digestive system as they are members of the bear family. The difference is they have adapted a vegetarian diet. =Enemies=

Adult pandas have only few natural enemies: jackals, leopards and the yellow-throated marten. Giant pandas are usually very peaceful animals and they try to avoid confrontation. If they can´t escape, they will fight back.

Then why are pandas so endangered?

The biggest threat to pandas are humans, not other animals. Because of humans actions such as habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching,illegal trade and more. Though we people are pandas greatest threat, we are also their greatest hope. We can help pandas if we all treat our planet more carefully. By protecting pandas we can also save fishes and forests.

=In popular culture=

Pandas have been quite visible in our popular culture. There are lots of movies and programmes about pandas such as the popular Kung Fu Panda and Taotao. Panda is also the mascot/logo of WWF. WWF has been really active in panda conservation and it´s one of their main priorities. They have for example helped the government of China to undertake the conservation project to save pandas and their natural habitat. =Videos:=

[|The youtube sensation sneezing panda] [|gangsta panda] [|Panda advertisement]

Sources: http://wwf.panda.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_panda