Giant Panda

The panda belongs to the family of Ursidea. The scientific name of the panda is Ailuropoda melanoleuca.

The panda is found mostly in western China. They live mostly in bamboo forests. A panda has no permanant home. Pandas do not hibernate.

The male panda weighs about 220 lbs. (100 kg). The female weighs about 180 lbs. (80 kg). The panda is mostly white except for black over the eyes, ears, and legs. The "sixth front toe" is really a large wrist bone which is used to grasp food.

Pandas almost always eat bamboo. However, if the bamboo is running low, the panda may eat crops, or even chicken.

Breeding of pandas occurs from March to May. The babies are born six months later. The weight of a panda at birth is about 3 to 5 oz. (85 to 140 g). Twins are not uncommon with pandas but only one will live.