The giant panda looks like a big teddy bear, but don't be fooled. This creature has a short temper, and will attack anything that bothers it. Most of the time, the giant panda lazes about doing nothing but napping and eating bamboo; it occasionally puts its hunting instincts to work when it feels like a bite of fish. For a hundred years, scientists weren't certain what the panda's relatives were, but they finally unlocked the secret.
Deadly Teddy: the giant panda's black eyes, big ears and round face give it the look of a teddy bear, but you might not want to get too near to one. The creatures have been known to attack people who come too close.
What is It?: When European scientists first saw the giant panda, they thought it was a new species of animal more closely related to raccoons. Genetic testing has proved that the panda is indeed a true bear.
Big on Veggies[]
Despite its bulk, the giant panda is a skilled climber.
Though this animal is scientifically classified as a carnivore (meat-eater), 99 percent of its diet is the bamboo plant. The panda's small canine teeth rip through the plant's tough skin, and a long set of molars grind the stalks into a pulp. Like all bears, though, this creature needs some protein. It often eats small insects without realizing it when the creatures are crawling on the bamboo stalks it devours. The giant panda does do a bit of hunting, too, snatching small fish out of mountain rivers.
Bamboo Break: The bamboo that the giant panda eats isn't very nutritious. Because of this, the big mammal has to eat for several hours a day. Plus, it can't waste any energy, so it can usually be found resting between meals.
Need a Hand?: The giant panda has odd paws for a bear. On its front feet, its "wrist" bones are long, like a thumb. The creature uses this false finger to grab bamboo. Though the plants are tough, the panda has great strength and can easily snap the thick stems.
Bamboo: It's What's for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner[]
- Walking in the morning, a giant panda sets off into a bamboo patch to grab some food. The animal will be spending much of its day eating away.
- The panda sits down on its hind legs to feed, and uses its modified wrist bone to grab hold of and snap thick bamboo stems.
- The panda jerks its head back and forth to peel strips of skin from the stem, then mashes the rest to bits with its strong molar teeth.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The panda is the only real, currently living bear not categorized in Nightmares of Nature.
- The giant panda is mentioned on several other cards:
- The panda is mentioned on the Gigantopithecus knowledge card, as both animals eat (or ate, in the ape's case) bamboo.
- The panda's current Chinese national animal status is referenced on the knowledge card of the former symbol, the Chinese Dragon.
- The giant panda is featured in National Pride on Monster Mania 86.