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The genus Ailuropoda has only one species, the giant panda. They are native to the mountain forests of China. There has always been a great deal of confusion as to where to classify this beautiful animal. Except for its color, it seems that it should be classified in the bear, or Ursidae, family, but biologists now believe that it should be classified as a Procyonidae, or raccoon family. The giant panda traditionally weighs between 75 and 250 lbs. They generally live by themselves except for mating season and when the female has young. They spend 10 to 12 hours a day feeding on small bamboo shoots and roots. Their front foot pads are specially designed to grasp this type of food.
The panda has very distinctive markings. They are basically white, with black markings around the ears, eyes and front legs. Nowadays, its markings have made it instantly recognizable and one of the most popular stuffed animals and zoo exhibits the world over. However, it was not always so. The panda was virtually unknown in the western world until the late 1800s. In 1869, French naturalist, Pere David discovered them on the second of his three expeditions to China. During his trip, he was able to acquire two specimens, one adult and one immature. From these, he was able to record the first impressions of their appearance and habits, however it was another 60 years before one was actually seen in the west.
Interest in capturing the animal was tweaked by skins brought back by Theodore and Kermit Roosevelt, used in the Chicago Natural History Museum in a habitat group. This viewing initiated the public's interest in the giant panda and prompted several expeditions to capture one and bring it to the states.
The first successful importation arrived at the Chicago Zoological park and was named Su-Lin. Though she only lived 2 years, the zoo received 2 more pandas that survived for 14 more years. Pandas have been popular zoo exhibits ever since, allowing biologists to study them close up.
Pandas were very difficult to breed in captivity, but the first baby panda was born in the Peking Zoo in 1963, and though it is still difficult pandas have been bred successfully in the years since. Another panda that brought worldwide attention to the breed was a young panda named Pandora. Normally residing at the Bronx Zoo, she was displayed at the New York World’s Fair of 1939-1940. She became the start of the fair, her antics viewed and loved by hundreds of thousands of adoring spectators. During WWII, the Bronx Zoo had 2 more pandas imported, Pandah and Pandee. The zoo had arranged a special habitat for the bears, including a house, garden and several trees. Unfortunately, one of the pandas promptly ran up into the foliage of the tallest tree and refused to come down. the curator of mammals devised a psychological trick to lure the animal down. He put her food dish within her view, and then allowed the other panda to eat out of it. This made the treebound animal so mad, she raced down out of the tree and chased the other panda away. Since then, biologists have made huge advances in their knowledge of pandas, allowing more successful captivities and breeding activities.
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