Big panda

● eating habits
● body
● population and distribution
● habitat
● endangered status
● reasons for being endangered
● how to help

EATING HABITS
Occasionally include plants of other species in their diet. In addition, like all bear pandas, pandas are omnivorous: when available, they eat eggs, small birds, small animals, fish and some insects, sometimes carrion. Animal food for pandas is an additional source of protein. In captivity, in zoos, pandas are provided with bamboo food; the diet also includes a special composition of cookies and other dietary supplements.

BODY
In length, the large panda reaches 1.2-1.8 m and has a mass of 17-160 kg. Males are larger than females in size (by 10 %) and in weight (by 20 %). Unlike other bears, it has a rather long tail (10-15 cm). The body is massive, covered with thick white fur with black spots around the eyes, black ears and black paws. The short, thick hind legs have sharp claws. On the soles and at the base of each toe, bare pads are well developed, making it easier to hold the smooth bamboo stems.

POPULATION AND DISTRIBUTION
In 2016, a new "population census" of large pandas was conducted and its results showed that the number of pandas in the world has increased to 1,864 animals living in the wild. This means that over the past 12 years, it was possible not only to preserve, but also to increase the population of these animals by 17%.

HABITAT
Large pandas live exclusively in dense bamboo forests at an altitude of 1200-4500 meters above sea level. Bamboo thickets, which are 3-4 meters high, give pandas not only food, but also shelter.

ENDANGERED STATUS
The great panda has been under threat of extinction since 1990. And the main reasons for the decline in the population of these animals were active poaching, which was especially pronounced in the 1980s, and a strong reduction in the territories where pandas lived.

REASONS FOR BEING ENDANGERED
The main reason for the extinction of pandas is the degradation and reduction of their habitat due to anthropogenic pressure. Due to the significant deforestation of bamboo forests, the habitat of large pandas is constantly being reduced.