Habitat
A long time ago, the Giant Panda would have been found roaming the plains of the Yangtze River Basin but human activity in those areas have required the Giant Pandas to move high up into the mountains. They now live in central and western China in dense bamboo forests. Deforestation has led to in decrease of the panda population.
Behavior and Diet
The Giant Panda is an independent animal which marks its territory with scratch marks on trees. A male Panda’s territory is more than double the size of a female’s. A male Panda’s territory will also overlap those of several female pandas who he has rights to breed with. Because bamboo is not very nutritious, the Giant Panda has to eat lots of bamboo every day. Giant Pandas spend between 12 and 15 hours a day chomping bamboo! Even though you only seem to see pandas eating and sleeping, they are excellent climbers and swimmers too!