About the giant and the small panda world has learned only in the XIX century. Small panda was discovered by scientists in 1821. Giant panda was found much later – in 1869, but managed to catch a big panda only after 68 years after its discovery.

Since the discovery of giant pandas began their study. But after two centuries of research, much of the pandas is still a mystery. And only a few facts about pandas became known around the world. We are invited to consult the fifteen most interesting facts about the giant and red pandas.

Facts about pandas

  1. For the first time scientists have studied the giant panda, they concluded that it was a giant raccoon. Only centuries later, with the help of a genetic test, the scientists were able to establish that a large panda – bear.
  2. The red panda belongs to a separate superfamily – Musteloidea that includes several families: raccoon, skunk and weasel.
  3. The main food of the pandas is bamboo, but sometimes in addition to bamboo pandas eat food of animal origin.
  4. As the small and giant pandas on the front paws have six ordinary fingers. Sixth, thumb, helps animals to capture and keep the bamboo.
  5. To prepare the young giant pandas to live in their natural habitat, scientists at the research center of Chengdu, China, wear a panda costume. This is done in order to baby panda get used to the visually similar to him relatives.
  6. By the size a big panda is not inferior to black bear, but inferior in speed. While panda is able to accelerate to a fast pitch black bear has a top speed of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour.
  7. Babies of giant panda at birth weigh only 140 grams, but at the age of 3 months, their weight is 4-6 kg.
  8. At birth, the color of giant pandas is white and in a week the baby pandas get a recognizable color.
  9. Cubs of red pandas at birth have a beige color. The fur color, as in the adult, cubs get only on the 3 month of life.
  10. For a full life in the natural environment a giant panda should have 7-11 square kilometers of land.
  11. Giant pandas are not sold in other zoos, but leased. For lease of a panda China gets a rent of 1 million. US dollars annually. If in the zoo panda born offspring, it is transferred to China to restore the gene pool.
  12. Life expectancy of giant panda in the natural environment is 14 to 20 years. Captive pandas live up to 26 years.
  13. Red panda in wildlife lives on average 8-10 years. In captivity they live up to 19 years.
  14. As giant and small pandas live in bamboo forests, which are only in China, India, Nepal, Myanmar and Bhutan.