Ten interesting facts about giant pandas

Jan 20th, 2010 by wwftravel

10. The first panda came to the United States in 1936 – a cub to a zoo in Chicago. It took another 50 years before the States would see another.

9. A newborn panda cub is 1/900th the size of its mother and is comparable to the length of a stick of butter.

Weighing a 2 month-old baby © Susan A. Mainka / WWF-Canon

8. A panda’s paw has six digits – five fingers and an opposable pseudo-thumb (actually an enlarged wrist bone) it uses merely to hold bamboo while eating.

7. Of all the members of the bear family, only sloth bears have longer tails than pandas.

6. Pandas rely on spatial memory, not visual memory.

5. Female pandas ovulate once a year and are fertile for only two or three days.

4. The giant panda’s genome was sequenced in 2009, according to the journal Nature.

3. The WWF logo was inspired by Chi-Chi, a giant panda brought to the London Zoo in 1961, when WWF was being created. Says Sir Peter Scott, one of those founders and the man who sketched the first logo: “We wanted an animal that is beautiful, is endangered and one loved by many people in the world for its appealing qualities. We also wanted an animal that had an impact in black and white to save money on printing costs.”

First official poster of WWF from 1961 © WWF Intl. / WWF-Canon

2. Historically speaking, pandas are one of the few animals whose parts have not been used in traditional Chinese medicine.

1. Approximately 99 percent of a panda’s diet – bamboo leaves and shoots – is void of much nutritional value. Its carnivore-adapted digestive system cannot digest cellulose well, thus it lives a low-energy, sedentary lifestyle but persists in eating some 60 species of bamboo. Pandas must eat upwards of 30 pounds of bamboo daily just to stay full.

See pandas during a WWF tour to China.

Posted in Wildlife | 75 Comments

75 Responses to “Ten interesting facts about giant pandas”

on 10 Dec 2010 at 6:05 pm1blah blah

thanks for those facts i have to do a school research on giant pandas!this was an amazing website for that.
on 02 Jan 2011 at 8:08 pm2katelyn moatz

i love this website i think it gives a lot of information for any subject that u r looking up
on 07 Jan 2011 at 9:30 am3jadea

why would u have #7 as a bear fact when the panda isn’t even a bear its more of a relation to the raccoon its no relation to the bear family at all.
on 12 Jan 2011 at 6:37 pm4science geek!

this is awesome! i had to do an endangered species project on Giant pandas and all i used was this site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on 18 Jan 2011 at 5:02 pm5Rebecca Bercawitz

i <3 pandas and was gonna do it for my school report thanks wwf!!!!!
on 24 Feb 2011 at 5:18 pm6melvin

this is very nice i passed a A+ on this
on 09 Mar 2011 at 5:16 pm7kingker

thanks for this i’m doing project on pandas
on 09 Mar 2011 at 6:03 pm8Shan

Has WWF thought about selling repro prints of this panda poster? It’s graphically impeccable and I for one would be thrilled to buy one! if you do, make sure you advertise it EVERYWHERE! I have “arty” friends who love copies too
on 27 Mar 2011 at 11:39 am9beach chick

thanks sooo much! i’m doing a project on them RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!
on 29 Mar 2011 at 5:24 pm10someonee

thanks!!!!!!!! helped me a lot with my projct a schhool (:
on 23 May 2011 at 6:33 am11Person in Korea

Thanks alot!!! It really helped my special MAMMAL poster!!!
I like you!! ^o^ !!!
on 23 May 2011 at 8:15 pm12☼Brenda☼

THANX A LOT. THIS WEBSITE GAVE ME A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT I DIDN’T KNOW. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP ME PASS MY SPEECH, OR AT LEAST GET A GOOD GRADE.
on 23 May 2011 at 11:28 pm13Mark

thanks a lot, I am working on the project right now
on 07 Jun 2011 at 9:06 am14GLEN!!!

Hey you’ve really helped me and my mates with our school project
on 18 Jul 2011 at 3:37 pm15GIRL :)

u guys rock luv this site helped me alot TY!!!!!!!
on 03 Sep 2011 at 11:10 pm16sativa

i love pandas ! thankyou guys i needed some facts for my assignment but i some in my own words
on 29 Sep 2011 at 7:42 am17lacey farley

this was great. so many pandas. i hope we find out more.
on 06 Oct 2011 at 1:51 pm18Rose

THANK YOU very much for the facts about panda’s,
I am working on a 5 page project for my writing class,
And this website helped,
Again thanks WFF!!!!
on 06 Oct 2011 at 4:25 pm19Kiera

I am doing a project on pandas and my best facts came from here. Thanks:)
on 11 Oct 2011 at 5:52 pm20aislinn

PEOPLE CANT YOU SEE WHATS HAPPENING TO ARE WILD LIFE LOOK AROUND AT THE WORLD HELP SAVE THEM!THEY NEED IT!
on 11 Oct 2011 at 5:54 pm21aislynn

WE KNOW HOW TO SAVE OUR WILDLIFE, NOW OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD HELP TO. PLEASE HELP US SAVE OUR ANIMALS! THEY NEED IT!
on 11 Oct 2011 at 6:49 pm22loubell

thanks this help me a lot
on 16 Oct 2011 at 9:16 pm23navpreet

thanks for the informationi i needed it for amy science project
on 27 Oct 2011 at 9:19 am24dance911

HI Love this
on 05 Nov 2011 at 2:49 pm25amy :]

thanx soo much im doing my project right now on this site :]] <3
on 05 Nov 2011 at 2:53 pm26amy :]

thanxx wwf im in 7th grade and im doing my school project right noww on this site haha THANXX and btw i <3 pandass!! <3 :]]
on 13 Nov 2011 at 5:55 pm27paramore gurl21

this place helped so muck cuz i have to do a project for science on 4 different animals!!
on 21 Nov 2011 at 6:27 am28ily chick

my teacher will thank u soo much of your fab website i make a shout out to my school darlington p.s and to my class heyy Mrs dollmans class
on 03 Dec 2011 at 12:32 pm29Smexy Gal26

thx a ton wwf i had to make a brochure and these facts r perfect!
on 03 Dec 2011 at 12:33 pm30iceymoon26

awesome website!!!!
on 18 Dec 2011 at 5:48 pm31Jamaine

thax man dis is gonna help mi with me work.
on 10 Jan 2012 at 9:52 am32the boss

this is boss. helped with a project
on 12 Jan 2012 at 3:30 pm33fisterr

i am ganna get a A+ on this thankss!! Pandas <3
on 12 Jan 2012 at 6:23 pm34Gracie

Doing a panda speech this helped a little more thanks!
on 20 Jan 2012 at 3:08 pm35madman

thanks doin a project a t unity blackpool and helped loads goin get a well good grade
on 23 Jan 2012 at 4:55 pm36AMS people

Thanks for the facts. I’m doing an Endangered Animal Report on Giant Pandas. =)
on 23 Jan 2012 at 4:55 pm37AMS people

Thanks for the facts. =)
on 29 Jan 2012 at 8:57 am38nicola

this is really good website
i am ten years old and i am doing my homework and i have to write a fact file about pandas.
pandas are my favourite animals
on 21 Feb 2012 at 4:46 am39thanks

this really helped me for some school work!! do you have some amazing facts about other animals…
thanks
on 21 Feb 2012 at 11:08 am40Sahir Farid

Fruitful post, I liked it. I am always in search of such stuff over the internet. Thanks for sharing dude.
on 28 Feb 2012 at 9:46 pm41Riddhi

this website was good for a project
on 06 Mar 2012 at 5:30 am42simon

this is an good site
on 06 Mar 2012 at 5:34 am43adam masters

this is a real good sit i reckmend this site to evrion
on 06 Mar 2012 at 5:36 am44jamal graver

good site
on 15 Mar 2012 at 9:17 am45Anna

Thx iu had do to do some research
on 15 Mar 2012 at 9:18 am46Anna

i love this website alot so cool
on 22 Mar 2012 at 12:32 pm47Thanks

Thank you for information ! I have to do a project about giant pandas !!! Thank you for facts !!!
on 22 Mar 2012 at 1:46 pm48mckala myers

this site is cool
on 22 Mar 2012 at 1:48 pm49kala

this site help with my pice
on 22 Mar 2012 at 1:51 pm50mckala
on 22 Mar 2012 at 1:52 pm51mckala

this site is the best ever:)
on 22 Mar 2012 at 1:54 pm52nate

good site:)
on 22 Mar 2012 at 1:56 pm53jb

good site for kids
on 22 Mar 2012 at 7:49 pm54ligitness

Pandas rock
on 22 Mar 2012 at 7:50 pm55ligitness

Thanks doing worlds fair animal
on 23 Mar 2012 at 9:39 am56Robert Gooley

It was very nice I love Pandas I think that they are the best creation of a time i really do hope you will give me a panda becuase it so intresting i love to stroke their orange fur with black stripes
on 26 Mar 2012 at 4:47 pm57pandas fact finder

lots of help to find facts for an essay!!!!!!!!!
on 28 Mar 2012 at 11:54 am58Science Project

Thank you soo much. I have an endangered species project at school and I have the Giant Panda. I need 5 interesting facts, and these are perfect!
on 29 Mar 2012 at 12:52 pm59kk

this helped me with my lang wig report
on 01 Apr 2012 at 7:47 am60salina

i love pandas and they are so cute even the baby panda
on 03 Apr 2012 at 8:50 am61YOMOMMA

Most of the people going on this website are probably using the facts for their project lol (including me)
on 09 Apr 2012 at 12:37 pm62sme1

thanx im doing a power point on them i luv pandas
on 11 Apr 2012 at 12:55 pm63Panda Lover

I LOVE pandas!!! Me and my friends say that I am sooooooooo obsessed!!!! And I am! Please save them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on 11 Apr 2012 at 5:07 pm64jay

SAVE THE PANDAS OR ELSE….. they will all die
on 13 Apr 2012 at 10:58 am65PANDAGUY01

SAVE PANDAS
on 16 Apr 2012 at 10:54 am66Unknown

pandas are awesome if they werent i would sit and scream haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaxxxxxx!!!!!!!! all day
on 30 Apr 2012 at 9:50 pm67boo boo

thanks for the information i am doing an SA on pandas and that was really helpful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on 07 May 2012 at 8:34 pm68Grace

I am so happy you have this site, it gave me sooo much info for my Giant Pandas project!!! thanx again!!!
on 07 May 2012 at 10:37 pm69winnie the pooh loves Pandas

wow my science teacher made us write a 50 page essay on edangered specie and i did Pandas and got an A+ yay me! And i got all my info on this website thanx a bunch WWF!
on 08 May 2012 at 1:53 pm70big daddy

thank u kindly for th info doin a project right now on pandas
on 09 May 2012 at 6:29 pm71jenelle

awesomeeeeeeeeeeee
on 09 May 2012 at 7:28 pm72shelly

awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on 13 May 2012 at 4:41 am73ashfaq

i am a panda lover these facts are good! I request the world to save pandas
on 14 May 2012 at 6:38 am74Anahita

i think this website is really useful XD thanx
on 16 May 2012 at 9:26 am75Ur mom

Thank you not just kidding yeah thank you helping me i am doing a project on pandas!