Giant Panda Bear Picture

When looking at the Giant Panda Bear picture, it’s difficult to admit that these creatures are related to bears. The taxonomic classification of pandas was a problem, as the Giant Panda and its smaller relative Red Panda share the characteristic features of both bears and raccoons. Recent genetic tests have proved that the Giant Panda, like other bears, belongs to the Ursidae family. The Spectacled Bear is the closest relative of the Giant Panda, though it lives in the other continent – South America. The unique look of these animals is the result of early differentiation of their ancestors from other bears. Both species developed in isolation and preserved their unique characteristics. As for Red Pandas, its taxonomy is still under debate. This species is considered to be a living fossil, as it has not changed for many thousand years.

In the Giant Panda Bear picture, you’ll see an appealing baby-like furry animal with black and white coat. Compared to other bears, Giant Pandas are small – only about 150 cm long and about 70-80 cm high at the withers. The average weight of males is 120 kg; females weight up to 100 kg.

In the Giant Panda Bear picture galleries, these animals are often pictured with a bamboo shoot. Pure vegetarian diet of this species as opposed to hunting creates an innocent image loved by people throughout the world. Being classified as a carnivore and having a digestive system typical of a carnivore, like other bears, Giant Pandas eat almost exclusively bamboo, which has a low nutrition value. Such diet is not efficient, and Giant Pandas have to eat large amounts of bamboo shoots to get enough protein. Adult Giant Pandas consume up to 30 pounds of bamboo a day.

Giant Pandas are nowadays highly endangered because of habitat loss and a low reproductive rate. For many centuries, these animals were hunted and poached for their fur. Only in the 1990s, effective conservation policy increased the chances of the species’ survival. Nowadays, the captive population of Giant Pandas outnumbers the wild population. The Giant Panda Bear picture is considered a national emblem of China and a symbol of peace and conservation of endangered species.