Pandas, Prepare for the Return of Awesomeness

We are all familiar with the lovable Po from DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda, but are we aware that the cuddly little animals are endangered? That there are actually less than 2,000 left in the world? People are starting to realize that these loveable creatures are in danger of going extinct unless we do something about it.

A little Information about the Panda

Pandas will spend their whole lives roaming the countryside looking for and eating bamboo. Pandas are also solitary creatures and only interact with one another to mate.

A Couple of Facts

• Pandas don’t roar, but bleat like a goat or even honk at each other.
• Scientists have yet to discover why pandas have the black and white coloration. Some think it is to help mates find each other.
• They are actually carnivores, but their diet consists mostly of plants and bamboo.
• Baby pandas are born small (about 4oz) and blind.
• A closer look at their genetic code has shown scientists that pandas are in the bear family.

What makes them so Endangered

Pandas struggle to breed in captivity, making it hard to increase the number of pandas in the world. But lately, scientists have finally discovered a way to get them to breed without putting on a video of pandas mating.

While hunters don’t always mean to catch a panda bear, they still get caught in a snare that was meant for a deer or another forest animal.

The growth of the human population and the expansion of cities have caused the pandas to lose their habitat.

Save the Pandas!

People all over the world are starting to notice these adorable animals. In China, these bears are revered and loved. It is now illegal to kill or harm a panda in China.

Many zoos are holding and helping the conservation effort for pandas, including the San Diego Zoo. With their reproductive programs, these zoos hope to eventually release Pandas back into the wild.