Giantpanda(大熊猫)

　　InthemountainsandvalleysoftheeasternQinghai-TibetPlateauandthewesternSichuanBasinlivestheworldfamous,rareanimal---theGiantPanda.ThewildGiantPandaexclusivelyhabitatinChina.

　　GiantPandaisknownworldwideasararetreasure,asymbolofauspiciousness,friendshipandamessengerofpeace.IthasbecomethenationaltreasureofChina.Itisreputedasthe“livingfossil”offaunaintheworld.Asearlyas1961,theWorldWildlifeFundwassetupwiththeGiantPandaastheemblemonitsbadgeandbanner.

　　SOrareisthegiantpandathattodaytherearethoughttobeonlyabout1,100individualsintheentireworld.ItislistedasanendangeredspeciesandhasbeenseeninthewildonlyinthemountainsofChina.

　　Thegiantpandaisabout1.2to1.5mlongfromthetipofitsnosetoitsrump,andithasastubbytail.Adultsweighabout75to160km.Theyhaveathick,woolly,whitecoatwithblackfuronthelegsandears.Theanimalsaredistinguishedbyblackeyepatchesandablackbandacrosstheshoulders.

　　Giantpandasusuallylivealoneinbambooforests.Theyaremainlygrounddwellers,usingcaves,hollowtrees,orrockcrevicesforshelter,buttheycanclimbtreesaswell.Thegiantpandafeedschieflyonbambooshootsandroots,graspingtheslenderstemswiththeaidofaspecialthumblikestructureonitsfrontfeet.Becausetheysometimeseatsmallanimals,theyareclassedascarnivores.

　　ThebreedingseasonofthegiantpandaextendsfromMarchtoMay.Oneortwocubsareborneachyear.Theyleavethemotherataboutsixmonthsofageandreachsexualmaturityaftersixorsevenyears.