I recently heard that pandas are not bears (just like dolphins are not fish) despite their look. Why? and what are the differences (or characteristics) between a bear and a panda?
The giant panda is a member of the bear family, yet has some distinguishing characteristics. Giant pandas weigh between eighty to one hundred twenty-five kilograms or one hundred eighty to two hundred fifty pounds (Bies). One obvious difference between giant pandas and other bears is the coloring. The black and white spots are unique to this species. Instead of roaring like most bears, the giant panda makes a bleating noise. They also have what is called a sixth front toe, which is unlike any other member of the bear family. In actuality, the toe is “an enlarged wrist bone that functions as a thumb in grasping food” (Giant Panda). The lifespan of the giant panda varies depending on location. Researchers estimate that wild pandas live between ten to fifteen years, but pandas living in captivity can live up to thirty years (Bies).
Also unlike other bears, the giant pandas diet consists mainly of bamboo. An adult giant panda spends approximately ten to twelve hours a day consuming bamboo. Although it has no real nutritional value, bamboo grows all year long. Giant pandas have the sixth toe and the ability to feed upright. These abilities combined with the plentifulness of bamboo make bamboo an ideal food source. The giant panda also has a very muscular stomach wall covered with a thick layer of mucus to aid in the digesting of bamboo (Bies). Giant pandas adapted to their environment several hundreds of year ago. This is seen through their physical features that are unique to this species and very advantageous to eating bamboo.
Since bamboo is the major source of the giant pandas diet, logically the giant panda lives in bamboo forests. These forest are usually at high elevations (Giant Panda), however, at one time pandas lived in river valleys as well. Humans settled the river valleys and pushed the pandas into higher elevations (The Giant Panda). Farmers take over part of the forest in order to graze livestock such as cattle or sheep. These animals’ hooves loosen the soil making it hard for bamboo seeds to get a start (Mu). On the other hand, panda help to distribute bamboo seeds (Bies). As land is taken away from the pandas and there are fewer pandas to aid in the distribution of bamboo, less and less bamboo grows in order to feed the giant pandas. Another problem derives from the short life span of some bamboo species. Some species of bamboo flower and then die shortly after (Giant Panda). All of the factors affecting the growth of bamboo directly affect the giant panda. Although the giant panda may eat other foods such as fish and fruit, ninety-nine percent of their diet is bamboo (Bies). The more bamboo destroyed means more giant pandas die of starvation.