A giant panda sitting among green bamboo
Photo: J. Patrick Fischer · CC BY-SA 3.0
Mammal

Giant Panda Facts

Ailuropoda melanoleuca

MammalCentral ChinaHerbivore

Giant pandas are mountain-dwelling bears from central China whose diet is dominated by bamboo. Strong jaws, broad molars, and a false thumb help them process tough stems and leaves.

Habitat
Temperate Forest
Diet
Primarily bamboo
Lifespan
15–20 years

Giant Panda Facts at a Glance

Giant pandas are mountain-dwelling bears from central China whose diet is dominated by bamboo. Strong jaws, broad molars, and a false thumb help them process tough stems and leaves.

It belongs to the family Ursidae in the order Carnivora. This profile is designed as a concise starting point; source links below support further reading.

Giant Panda Habitat

Giant Pandas live in Temperate Forest and Mountain habitats across Central China. Their range depends on places that provide suitable food, shelter, and conditions for raising young.

What Do Giant Pandas Eat?

Giant Pandas are herbivore animals. Their diet includes Primarily bamboo, and the food available in their habitat shapes how they find, hunt, or forage for meals.

Giant Panda Lifespan, Size, and Weight

A giant panda typically lives for 15–20 years. Adults measure about 120–190 cm and weigh around 70–125 kg; these ranges can vary with sex, age, habitat, and access to food.

Giant Panda Conservation Status

Giant Panda is listed here as Vulnerable. Protecting habitat, maintaining healthy prey or food sources, and reducing human pressure are important parts of conserving wild populations.

Quick facts

Region
Central China
Habitat
Temperate Forest, Mountain
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
15–20 years
Size
120–190 cm
Weight
70–125 kg

Fun facts

  • A modified wrist bone acts like a thumb for holding bamboo.
  • Pandas spend much of the day feeding because bamboo is low in energy.
  • Cubs are tiny compared with their mothers at birth.
  • Their black-and-white pattern may help with both camouflage and communication.

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Sources and image credit

Animal facts are reviewed against the references below. The photograph remains available under its linked license.