The diversity of species that inhabit the face of the Earth is immense, so much so that we will probably never get to know them in their entirety. Among all of them, there are some animals that, due to their extraordinary characteristics, capture our taste and attention, which is why they are extremely popular. One of these beings easily identifiable throughout the world are panda bears, which also represent an emblem of China for being the only country where their habitat is found.
The contrast in the colors of the fur on their body, their small and rounded ears, or their touching look could be some of the features that make us appreciate them so much, but it is a fact that they cause us amazement and tenderness at the same time. The sweet images of panda bears make us forget that it is actually an endangered species, to which scientists from all over the world have dedicated their conservation for many years.
So are panda bears
We’re used to seeing pandas as friendly, burly giants lounging among bamboo forests, but they don’t really look like that all their lives. One of the most curious characteristics of these animals is their tiny size during the first phase of their lives. At birth they are so small that they weigh between 90 and 130 grams, which is the equivalent of a light stick of butter.
Later, upon reaching adulthood, they can reach a weight of between 70 and 100 kilograms and a height of up to 1.90 meters, which is why it has been called the giant panda, since it is taller than other species close to it, such as the case of the american bear
what pandas eat
A great unknown that accompanies these enormous animals is the reason for their large size and their diet. When thinking about pandas, the image of an adorable bear that holds a piece of bamboo in its claws comes to mind, and this reference is true, since they spend a large part of their lives eating.
More than 90% of a panda bear’s diet is bamboo cane, and this is not limited to a single plant, as pandas consume up to 30 different species distributed in different tropical forests. Curiously, they also incorporate other elements into their diet that provide them with additional protein, such as small rodents, insects, and the eggs of some birds, but these food sources are by no means a substitute for bamboo, since most of its nutrients come from there.
An adult panda bear will spend between 10 and 16 hours eating cane, which means they need especially large amounts of this plant. In just one day they can consume the surprising figure of 20 kilos, which is equivalent to 14% of their weight. And it is in their diet, where is the key that this species has been in danger of extinction.
Where do panda bears live?
The complex and selective feeding of pandas was the reason why their population declined in the 1980s, due to the loss of habitats and bamboo forests. Since then, the Government of China has invested a lot of effort in conserving the species and increasing the number of individuals living in the wild.
In recent years they have dedicated care to the spaces they inhabit so that the species can reproduce, have enough food and develop, so that according to a calculation made in 2017, the panda population was 2,000 bears, of which 1,864 lived in released and the rest remained in captivity as part of a conservation program. Based on these calculations, panda bears ceased to be an endangered species to acquire the status of «threatened».
Although the situation of the pandas seems to be improving, a not very encouraging figure explains that they could return to an endangered status, since it is thought that in the next few years 80% of the bamboo forests, a plant on which the species, they could disappear. As you can see, the adorable panda has hope, but it depends on immediate actions to take care of his home.
It might interest you