Over the past four decades, the giant panda population has been severely threatened by many factors including: Habitat destruction and fragmentation through human activities and climate change. Poaching. Slow reproduction because of their narrow reproductive window.
Their primary threats are habitat loss and degradation, human interference and poaching. Researchers believe that the total population of red pandas has declined by 40 percent over the past two decades. It is probable that this decline will continue in the coming years.
In a welcome piece of good news for the world's threatened wildlife, the giant panda has just been downgraded from 'Endangered' to 'Vulnerable' on the global list of species at risk of extinction, demonstrating how an integrated approach can help save our planet's vanishing biodiversity.
While pandas are regarded as cuddly, quiet animals, they certainly have a dangerous side when they feel threatened. They're solitary creatures and like to avoid confrontation, the World Wildlife Fund reports, but have sharp claws and teeth and may attack to protect themselves or their cubs if provoked.
The Panda symbolizes luck and peace. It's a spirit animal that brings both gentleness and power. It teaches you the importance of patience and helps you always keep a positive attitude.
Why extinction is still a threat to the giant panda?
What is the panda a metaphor for?
The panda is puberty
The biggest, most obvious answer is that the panda symbolizes puberty. Ming mistakes Mei's first transformation for her first period, and the sheer awkwardness Mei feels while trying to hide her bright red secret translates to the sheer awkwardness many girls feel about getting their first period.
Much like calling someone “sweetheart” or “honey,” referring to them as a panda can be a playful expression of affection. It's a way of showing that you're fond of them and enjoy their company, much like the warm fuzzy feeling you get from snuggling up with a panda plushie.
If you do want to cuddle a panda - you need to get there early as they only do it after the pandas are fed in the morning, and if the pandas aren't in the mood to be held, then it doesn't happen at all.
Giant pandas are docile overall and often lower their heads or shade their faces with their front paws in an attempt to conceal themselves when they come across a human for the first time. They seldom attack people or other animals, choosing to try and evade conflict first.
They are wild animals, never approach or try to pet a wild animal ever. Pandas are very large animals, while they appear on nature programs as slow moving and gentle they can kill a human. The only place pandas live in the wild is in mountainous areas of China where they nearly went extinct.
Infrastructure development (such as dams, roads, and railways) is increasingly fragmenting and isolating panda populations, preventing pandas from finding new bamboo forests and potential mates. Forest loss also reduces pandas' access to the bamboo they need to survive.
It helps that they have bodies perfectly suited for rolling around. Their rounded frames and short limbs might make them predisposed to tumbling, and their sedentary lifestyle might make matters worse. Because they sit in the same spot for so long, some researchers have hypothesized that their muscles fall asleep.
Red pandas are often killed when they get caught in traps meant for other animals such as wild pigs and deer. They are also poached for their distinctive pelts in China and Myanmar.
According to an article by Clara Steel Miguelez, “red pandas are small pandas that are known as the lesser panda and it is currently endangered.” They are mammals and as of 2024 there are only 100,000 red pandas left in the wild, which sounds like a lot but it is not.
Despite no competition with the world, the giant panda still has some predators to contend with, such as the golden cat, leopard, jackal, wolf, yellow-throated marten and more, who only prey on the cubs, the elderly, and sickly giant pandas.
Despite that, the panda keepers I spoke with told me that pandas can develop significant—if temporary and highly conditional—relationships with humans. But every keeper or expert I spoke with held that those relationships have everything to do with simple sustenance.
They are pretty indifferent to petting. Their fur feels kind of like a slightly ragged medium-length fur dog's (if that makes sense) it's kinda hard to explain, it's been a year since I got the chance to pet one! It does feel nice though!
Panda attacks on humans are exceedingly rare, especially in the wild. In their natural habitat, pandas are shy and tend to avoid humans. They are more likely to retreat or hide rather than confront a human.
DID YOU KNOW? Male pandas are called boars, and females sows, just like pigs. In China, giant pandas are also known as 'white bear', 'bamboo bear' and 'large bear cat'.
It is human instinct that we find them cute. Like Teddie Bear, cubs of all the bear species are very cute, as they do look like human babies. In pandas' case, even adult pandas have all these features. That is why, I think, many people find them cute.
