Quin Quin, a Giant Panda, living in china’s Shaanxi Province in northwestern China, has given birth to twin cubs (August 2022).
The twosome – one boy and one girl – are said to be doing well and are enjoying spending time with their mum at the breeding centre – Qinling Panda Research Centre – in Xi’an.
The cubs raise hope for the survival of this vulnerable species. The cute pair were born pink with practically no hair and will remain blind for around six weeks. Until they are ready to open their eyes they are pretty much helpless and are dependent on their mum.
Mum was also born at the centre and is part of the successful programme that has seen pandas born in captivity later being released into the wild. The population remains at risk and there are estimated to be just 1,800 wild pandas left in the world.
What do you know about the Giant Panda?
The latin name for Giant Panda is Ailuropoda melanoleuca.
Often referred to as panda bear or just panda, they are easily recognisable by their black and white fur and rotund body. They live mainly in the mountainous regions of Southwest China where they like the high, damp and misty environment. Pandas were once widespread throughout China and even Myanmar and northern Vietnam but poaching, destroyed habitats and poor breeding have all taken their toll. They have been on the endangered list since 1990, however, since 2016, this had been revised to vulnerable.
Did you know that in China the Giant panda is considered to be a national treasure and is a symbol of peace and friendship. Its easy to see why! These beautiful creatures are loved around the world. Apparently, in times gone by warring tribes would raise a flag with a panda on to call a truce.
Giant Panda Statistics
| Location | South Central China |
| Habitat | Forests and mountains |
| Size | 4ft-6ft |
| Weight | 70-135kg |
| Colour | Black and white |
| Diet | bamboo |
| Lifespan | 14-30 years |
| Family species | Bears |
| Speed | up to 20 mph |
Source: Pascal Müller (unsplash.com) – 2 new born pandas at Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center, Chengdu, China (published 2018)
Giant Panda facts
- Giant panda are herbivores: They have the anatomy of a meat eater but are almost exclusively veggie with the odd fish or small rodent thrown in occasionally.
- Almost all of the Giant panda’s diet is bamboo: In fact 99% of their diet is bamboo and they can eat as much as 20kg each day. Bamboo has little nutritional value so they have to keep munching.
- Pandas have evolved an ‘unique thumb ‘which enables them to hold the bamboo stalks: The ‘thumb’ is actually a modified wrist bone which enables them to hold, peel and eat the bamboo stalks in super quick time.
- Giant pandas can swim and climb trees: Like all bears Giant pandas are excellent swimmers and are quite skilful tree climbers too.
- All pandas in the world are Chinese citizens: All Giant pandas belong to China, are Chinese citizens and have a Chinese passport. Their cubs are Chinese citizens too.
- Giant pandas are lazy: Giant pandas spend quite a lot of their time either eating or sleeping!
- Giant pandas do not hibernate: Unlike other bears the Giant panda does not hibernate. Instead they migrate short distances to warmer climes (lower elevations). They do not hibernate simply because they don’t stop eating.
- Giant pandas begin life pink: When they are first born the Giant panda is pink, blind, deaf and completely reliant on it’s mum. Within a couple of days white fur begins to cover their little bodies followed by the classic black markings.
- Mum and cubs stay together for a while: Panda cubs tend not to leave the family unit until they are around a year and a half to two years. Then they are off to life the customary solitary house.
- Giant pandas are actually quite noisy: Research has shown that Giant pandas have quite an extensive repertoire of noises, 11 in all. These include bleating like sheep or goats, barking like a dog and growling, depending on the circumstances they are in.
- Giant panda have been around for quite some time: Fossils have been found that indicate pandas were around between 2 and 3 million years ago.
Read more facts about Panda Bears
Is the Giant Panda Endangered?
Giant pandas were on the ‘endangered’ list for many years but have now been downgraded to ‘vulnerable’, a category authorised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Their population has increased by 17% in the last ten years, which is great news and gives us hope for the survival of these beautiful creatures. Although this is good news for our furry friends they are not out of the woods yet.
There are several reasons that are responsible for their vulnerability; most notably the loss of their habitat and subsequently their loss of their food source. Deforestation on the part of humans is irreparable and relocating to a new forest is almost impossible for our pandas as towns and cities separate them.
They struggle adapting to the impact humans are putting on their habitat as they aren’t able to move into towns and cities and live alongside us as they wouldn’t blend in at all due to their large size and their diet is bamboo and they aren’t designed to eat and digest anything else.
Another reason for their vulnerability is that pandas are infamous for having difficulty in reproducing and having offspring. They are very choosy when selecting a mate and even if they do pair up there’s no guarantee that they will ‘get it together’ and produce a cub. Furthermore, female pandas seem to lose their motherly instincts when in captivity and can often abandon or hurt her cubs, so therefore they need to be hand reared with plenty of TLC.
Lastly, and sadly, poaching is a continuous threat. Their pelt and other body parts are lucrative on the black market. Panda cubs are also captured in the wild and sold as pets.
Giant Panda Conservation
As mentioned before, Pandas are no longer on the endangered list since 2016 and that’s all thanks to the fantastic conservation efforts. China have worked tirelessly for decades to promote their survival and save these beautiful creatures from extinction. China have created huge panda reserves across several mountain range.
Officials from The International Union for conservation of Nature (IUCN) say “China has established a relatively complete nature reserves system,” Cui said on Wednesday as he announced the move. “Large areas of natural ecosystems have been systematically and completely protected, and wildlife habitats have been effectively improved.”
They also added that thanks to these efforts other endangered and vulnerable animals, are benefiting too. “The number of species such as Siberian tigers, Amur leopards, Asian elephants, and crested ibis has increased significantly,”
Watch as a Panda gives birth to rare twins at Berlin Zoo
WWF
‘Our mission is to create a world where people and wildlife can thrive together’
I can’t talk about the Giant panda without mentioning the WWF, the world’s leading independent conservation organisation. The World Wildlife Trust chose the Giant panda as its logo, and as a symbol of all endangered animals in 1961 with HRH Prince Phillip as it’s President. The current president is Yolanda Kakabadse – the former Ecuadorian minister for the environment.
Their ethos is to work hard in the UK and around the world to ensure that donations have the greatest impact on our planet.
The Panda Bear is still one of the most popular soft toys available
Panda Soft Toys have always had a special place in the hearts of children and adults alike. Cuddly and aesthetically pleasing to the eye, they offer a variety of benefits, irrespective of which particular style is chosen.
The Panda bear is a big and cuddly, visually appealing character and has remained a firm favourite over many years. Within the UK, one of the most popular online resources offering a stunning selection of Panda bear options is Teddy Bear Friends – with varying styles, colours and sizes available there is something for everyone.