An unusual animal of black and white color attracts many - it is often photographed for calendars, covers of notebooks and notebooks. They also become circus performers or they are placed in a zoo, which cannot but upset ...
Because of its remarkable costume, the bear is adored all over the world! The big panda also has the second name “bamboo bear” - this is due to the fact that the animal prefers to use bamboo, spending at least 12 hours on this activity. The bicolor charming bear, by the way, has a distant relative - the red panda, outwardly it is very different, but not inferior to the big one in beauty.
We have compiled 10 of the most interesting facts about pandas - curious and charming bears hailing from China.
10. Bamboo bear - the only modern species of the genus Ailuropus
The bamboo bear is an incredibly beautiful powerful animal belonging to the classification of "bear". The panda has a black and white color, soft hair and beautiful spots around the eyes that resemble glasses. It has the characteristics of raccoons. It's hard to find a sweeter and good natured creature! Look into his eyes and see for yourself ...
One of a kind: spotted bear (Ailuropus) belongs to the subfamily Ailuropodinae. Panda eats only one species of bamboo - the animal’s daily diet includes at least 30 kg, but the weight concerns adults.
9. National Emblem of China
Big pandas can be seen in China (as well as in Tibet), mainly in the mountainous regions. This is a huge animal (reaches about 1.5 meters in length, and weighs up to 160 kg.) is a kind of symbol of China. There pandas became sacred animals - in ancient China, for example, their physiognomy was minted on gold coins, and now, as a sign of special respect, they are used as the most expensive diplomatic gifts.
In China, there is a special reserve of pandas, where specialists in their field are engaged in the study and breeding of this unique animal.
8. Forefeet - with the thumb and five normal
If you look at the panda in the photos, you will notice that they have not quite ordinary paws. They are similar to the human hand., and in the process of eating, the panda, sitting down in a comfortable position, resembles a person.
Nature has provided for everything, the “thumb” on the panda’s foot is actually a modified sesamoid bone of the wrist, thanks to which the animal can easily be controlled even with thin bamboo shoots. By the way, this wonderful vegetarian cannot live a day without them!
Interesting fact: the human and bamboo panda genomes are approximately 68% identical.
7. They belong to the order of carnivores, but eat mainly bamboo
Basically, a large panda eats bamboo - 98% of the animal’s diet consists of it, but despite this fact, it belongs to the classification of “predators”. In addition to bamboo, the animal can diversify its diet by treating itself to a fish, a pika or small rodents.
Scientists attributed the panda to the "predatory" classification after genetic research. At one time, the animal was classified as raccoon, but according to the method of nutrition, it is a herbivorous organism. This beautiful beast, maybe a vegetarian, but still has all the signs of a predatory animal.
Interesting fact: foxes and wolves also prefer diversity in their diet - they like melons. If you notice, cats (the "predatory" squad) sometimes gnaw weed.
6. Spend up to 12 hours daily on food
You read everything correctly - it is such an amount of time that a panda spends without food regret on food! To us - people who sometimes do not even have time to have a normal breakfast, doing it literally on the go, it seems unimaginable. However, a giant panda spends 12 hours a day eating (mainly biting a bamboo), eating about 12-15% of its weight.
The panda does not hibernate, but is active all year round. The thing is that the animal's diet, consisting of bamboo, does not allow him to accumulate enough fat reserves for the winter.
It is worth noting that pandas live in hard-to-reach areas of China - bamboo dies every few years, and with it, pandas who fail to find enough food die.
5. The PRC provides for the death penalty for killing a panda
Volunteers and all animal lovers - good news for you! In China, the murder of a large panda is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and if there are aggravating circumstances for the killer, he may even be sentenced to death. This is the right decision, because in nature there are very few of them left.
By the way, the animal was listed in the Red Book. In China, the panda is a national symbol, so the state is very careful about the panda population and the conditions for their conservation. It is unlikely that anyone would dare to harm an animal by breaking the law.
4. The red panda, despite its predatory nature, prefers young bamboo
The red panda is also known as the “cat bear” (look at the photo - you will surely find features similar to cats in it), “little panda” or “fire fox”. This animal, although a predator, but eats plant foods. Almost its entire diet (95%) consists of bamboo leaves (especially the panda prefers young shoots).
She covers the branches of bamboo with her front legs and brings them food to her mouth - at the time of the meal, the animal resembles a person with its habits. A panda can eat in any position: sitting, standing or even lying, savoring every bite.
Unlike bamboo panda, red cellulose does not digest at all, therefore, in winter, eating plant food, the animal loses much weight (about 1/6 of its weight).
3. In India and Nepal, a cat bear is a pet
In Nepal and India, some wealthy families contain such a beautiful and unusual animal.. Predators become pets. However, the cat bear is not suitable for living among people - the animal requires a certain diet and a familiar way of life.
It is difficult to keep a red panda not only at home, but even in a zoo. Usually, if someone starts a cat bear as a pet, he soon faces a tragic outcome - the panda lives at home for no more than 6 years. The animal often dies due to intestinal disease.
2. Long debate about the relationship to one or another family
In total, there are 2 types of pandas: large (the second name is "bamboo") and small ("red"). There has been a long debate between scientists over which family the animals belong to.but nevertheless now we can precisely find out the answer to the question.
Despite the fact that both of these species are called panda, they belong to different families. If after a long debate the bamboo panda is nevertheless assigned to the “bear” family, then the situation is different with the red panda - it belongs to the classification of “raccoons” (by the way, the bamboo panda was also referred to it for some time).
1. The small panda is a distant relative of the large
If you track by classifications, then the red panda is a distant relative of the big one, though outwardly it does not at all look like a bamboo. The small panda is small, reddish in color (in appearance it looks more like a fox or a cat), and it has more similarities with a raccoon.
Interesting fact: Europe learned about the red panda only in the 19th century - in 1821, Thomas Hardwick made an amazing discovery while exploring the English colonies. The military man gathered reliable data about the red panda and even suggested that it be called “Hha” in a peculiar way (by the way, the Chinese called it the panda - the imitation of sounds made by this “hha” was taken as the basis).
And finally, something else. The red panda is a Mozilla brand name that you most likely know.