1. Even though Pandas are actually omnivores, in the
same family as the
Polar
Bear and the Grizzly Bear, they hardly eat any meat, in fact
about 99% of their diet is vegetarian. They can eat up to 30kg of
bamboo per day and spend most of the day eating. Bamboo is low in
essential nutrients and pandas only digest about 20% of what they
consume, which is why they eat so much.
2. Pandas may appear to be very friendly and cute
but, like Grizzly bears, they are actually one of the more
aggressive bear species
when provoked. They are very territorial animals. Most aggressive
encounters occur during the mating season.
3.
Unlike other bears Pandas are mainly
nocturnal
creatures; because of this their eyes have pupils which are
vertical slits that are similar to a cat’s eyes to help them
see much better in
the dark. All other bears have round eyes.
4.
A Panda’s paws are just like that of
any other bear but they also have an enlarged wrist bone that acts
as a thumb to hold the bamboo as they eat.
5.
Pandas are great climbers and their
coniferous and mountainous surroundings mean that they can find
shelter within trees or rocks rather than build their own den. They
also migrate to warmer
environments in the mountains when it gets too cold, pandas can’t
build up a fat layer due to their diet which means Pandas are one
of the few bear species that don’t need to hibernate.
6.
Female pandas can only mate once a
year when they are on heat for only a few days. Even though females
produce 2 young cubs, they will usually abandon one of the cubs so
they can concentrate on raising and protecting her one cub well.
These two factors are thought to be part of the reason why the
panda population is so small and is so difficult to
increase.
7.
Panda bears have a wide range of
vocalisations and noises that they communicate with. The sounds
they make range from barks and growls to honks and squeals, in fact
it is of a similar vocal range to a dog. Most vocalisations occur
when pandas are about to mate or fight. The tones of the calls also
demonstrate the sex and size of the bear.
8.
Scent markings are rubbed on trees as
another form of communication and territorial marking. The panda
has an unusual way of rubbing its scent onto trees, it stands on
its front legs doing a handstand and rubs an acidic substance from
its genital glands on the trees and rocks or sprays
urine.
9.
Despite their size Panda bear cubs
are among the smallest newborn mammals in the
world. They are born with pink, black and white fur-less skin,
blind and completely helpless. They
rely completely on their mother to survive. They only weigh about
100 – 200 grams when they are born, 900 times smaller than their
mother.
10.
Pandas have to sit or lie down when
they eat so that they can use their front paws and “thumbs” to eat.
They have extremely large molar teeth and very strong jaws because
they need to bite and crush bamboo stalks to a pulp so they can
digest it.
