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Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.
Taxonomy | Physical Characteristics |
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Kingdon: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae Genus: Ailuropoda Species: Ailuropoda melanoleuca |
Body Length: 120–180 cm (47–71 in) Tail Length: 10–15 cm (4–6 in) Weight: males: 85–125 kg, or 150–200 lb) (but up to 150 kg, or 330 lb, in managed care); females: 70–100 kg (150–200 lb) Coloration and fur: Coarse guard hairs repel water; thick and woolly undercoat provides warmth. Commonly, black-and-white pattern (but more brownish fur patches in at least one subpopulation). Contrasting colors provides camouflage for blending in with shadows and snow. |
Distribution & Status | Behavior & Ecology |
Range: 6 remote mountain ranges in China (Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu Provinces) Habitat: forests with adequate bamboo understory; prefer old-growth forests; shelter in tree hollows, rock crevices, and caves IUCN Status CITES Appendix Population Estimates: approximately 1,040 adults; approximately 1,800-2,060 individuals total |
Locomotion: Can walk over rough terrain and through bamboo easily. Gait described as “rolling,” “ambling,” or “waddling." Rarely run but will dash off if startled. Infrequently climb trees as adults, but young pandas (between 4 and 14 months old) commonly stay in a tree while mother forages. Activity Cycle: Active day and night. Most activity involves resting/sleeping, foraging, and eating. Social Behavior: Generally solitary, except during breeding or raising cubs (females). Socialize "at a distance" through odors/smell. Communication: Scent mark trees, rocks, logs, stumps, etc. using gland secretions and urine. Strip bark; leave claw marks on trees; signal each other with body postures. Range of breeding and nonbreeding vocalizations, such as bleats, chirps, snorts, huffs. Tactile communication most common during breeding (adults) or between a mother and cub. Diet (*not yet peer reviewed): 99% bamboo leaves, stems, and shoots; rarely eat other kinds of plants but may have diet flexibility. Opportunistically eat carrion and meat (eg, small rodents), crops, domestic animal feeds. |
Reproduction & Development | Species Highlights |
Sexual Maturity: similar for both sexes; about 4 to 6 years in managed care, but as late as 7 to 8 years in wild populations Gestation: on average, about 140 to 150 days (but can be highly variable due to delayed embryo implantation) Litter Size: usually 1 cub raised by mothers of wild populations Birth Weight: About 112 g (range: about 75 to 150 g) (giant panda newborns particularly small, even compared to other bear species, but rapidly gain weight) |
Feature Facts:
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© San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 2001–2025. Created in 2001. Fully revised and peer reviewed in 2024 and 2025.
How to cite: Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Fact Sheet. c2001-2025. San Diego (CA): San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; [accessed YYYY Mmm dd]. https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/ giantpanda. (note: replace YYYY Mmm dd with date accessed, e.g., 2025 Apr 15)
Disclaimer: Although San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance makes every attempt to provide accurate information, some of the facts provided may become outdated or replaced by new research findings. Questions and comments may be addressed to library@sdzwa.org.
An updated version of this fact sheet is being reviewed by scientists and wildlife care specialists with expertise in giant panda biology. Check to see which information has already been updated, below.
Many thanks to the reviewers who generously shared their time and knowledge to improve this resource.
Thank you to SDZWA volunteer Leila Dooley for research assistance with cultural and SDZWA history information.