Zoo Atlanta has so far been very successful in this resource-intensive process. Currently, giant pandas are limited to six mountainous areas of southwestern China in the provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, and Shanxi. Historical records indicate a much larger distribution, including much of China and portions of Myanmar and Vietnam. Their preferred bamboo forests are found at elevations between 5, and 10, feet.
Their preferred cool and wet bamboo forests are found at elevations between 5, and 10, feet. Cubs are raised in rocky crevices, dead trees, or caves. Our animal care professionals offer each adult or subadult giant panda about 80 pounds of various bamboo species per day, and they generally select and consume only about third of that. They also are offered nutritious high-fiber biscuits and fruits such as apples or sweet potatoes.
The giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta are on loan from China. The Zoo pays an annual loan fee for the pandas, and this money is used for giant panda conservation. The majority of these funds are used for projects for wild giant pandas, and eight different nature reserves have been supported with these funds. Our supported projects fall under three categories: research, infrastructure and management. Examples of the projects include research on genetic diversity; construction of protection stations; reserve management and reforestation projects; and purchase of equipment used by reserve staff to census and monitor giant panda populations.
Learn more here. Generic filters Hidden label. Hidden label. Donate Timed Ticketing Membership. Tickets Map Your Visit. Back to all Animals. They teach colleagues in China how to conduct censuses and surveys of large mammals, including giant pandas that live in the wild, using geographic information systems GIS and other high-tech tools for tracking wildlife.
They are also working to identify new landscapes for giant panda reintroduction. Field research has revealed that wild pandas' habitat is highly fragmented, which means pandas have a difficult time finding a mate.
To address that problem, Zoo scientists and colleagues have been exploring the possibility of creating "corridors" of forests that link isolated habitats. Such corridors would give giant pandas more options for movement and mate selection. They might also assist with the reintroduction of captive-born pandas into the wild. The Zoo's pandas are part of Panda Watch behavior study. Over the years, they've amassed mountains of data on the species, which is notoriously difficult to study in the wild.
In December , David M. In appreciation, the giant panda complex was named the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat. In addition, young conservation biologists in the U. Rubenstein Fellows. The gift allowed the Zoo's animal care and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's scientific team to proceed with the five-year science plan established with their Chinese colleagues from the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
The science plan had specific goals: to examine the creation and impact of corridors to link fragmented habitats that will benefit giant pandas and other wildlife species, including promoting genetic diversity; examine how to restore habitats, especially those where pandas appear to be making a comeback; provide advice on giant panda reintroduction; examine the potential impact of transmissible diseases on giant pandas and other wildlife species, including providing advice on implementing new programs associated with a Wildlife Disease Control Center being built in Sichuan Province; and continue research on giant panda reproduction and management, because, although there has been major success in Chinese breeding centers, some pandas still experience reproductive challenges.
In , Mr. As per the Zoo's original agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, any cub born to Mei and Tian would be sent to a breeding center in one of the panda reserves in China sometime after the cub turned two years old.
In April , it was determined that Tai Shan would remain at the Zoo an additional two years past his second birthday, which was July 9, This extension allowed Tai Shan to become an adolescent bear in front of his fans. What's more, Zoo scientists were able to continue their studies of his growth and development to document changes during this little-known stage of a panda's life.
The new loan, which was agreed upon in , states that any cub born at Zoo will stay for four years. Bao Bao, Mei Xiang's second surviving cub born Aug. Bei Bei, Mei Xiang's cub born Aug. Her name means "beautiful fragrance.
Her eye patches are oval, and a pale black band runs across the bridge of her nose. She weighs about pounds. His name means "more and more. His eye patches are shaped like kidney beans, and he has two black dots across the bridge of his nose. He weighs about pounds. Skip to main content. Entry passes are required for all guests, including infants.
All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the Zoo, regardless of their vaccination status. Fully vaccinated visitors do not need to wear a mask in outdoor areas.
Asia Trail. Giant panda. Video of Giant Panda. Animals Animals A-Z Giant panda. Share this page:. Fact sheet Conservation Meet the Animals Physical Description The giant panda, a black-and-white bear, has a body typical of bears.
Size About the size of an American black bear, giant pandas stand between 2 and 3 feet 60 to 90 centimeters tall at the shoulder on all four legs , and reach 4 to 6 feet 1. Native Habitat Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in south central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.
Communication Giant pandas do not exhibit body characteristics that communicate visual signals. Social Structure Adult giant pandas may be generally solitary, but they do communicate periodically through scent marks, calls and occasional meetings. Reproduction and Development Giant pandas reach breeding maturity between four and eight years of age. Sleep Habits In the wild, giant pandas typically nap between feedings for two to four hours at a time, snoozing on their side, back, or belly, either sprawled or curled up.
Lifespan Scientists are not sure how long giant pandas live in the wild, but they are sure it is shorter than lifespans in zoos. Saving Pandas in the Wild Under the terms of the Zoo's agreement with China, scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's Conservation Ecology Center have studied these bears both in the wild and in human care.
Consider donating your time, money or goods. Share the story of this animal with others. Simply raising awareness about this species can contribute to its overall protection. Conservation Projects. Advancing Care in Panda Medicine in China. Giant Panda Conservation. The formula is especially useful if the mother panda is not giving her cub enough milk. The milk that panda newborns need to survive is much more nutrient-dense than that of many species and is crucial for survival, making neglect by the mother potentially disastrous.
More than people waited in line Friday to see Xiao Liwu on a cool degree day. Xiao Liwu climbed around the tree-fort-style area and plopped down in one of his favorite spots to sit.
A ray of sunshine illuminated the top of his head as he leaned back with a bamboo stalk. He put the stalk in his mouth and peeled off outer layers to begin his meal.
Families of young children made up much of the crowd, leading to the occasional baby-stroller traffic jam. Stephanie Toscano, of Tucson, Ariz. Zoo officials said none of the staff that worked with the pandas would be laid off but would work with other animals. Still, it may be tough for those employees to say goodbye, especially to Bai Yun, the year resident.
Just a nice, good animal. Bai Yun was not on display for much of Friday, but no one seemed to notice with Xiao Liwu content to put on a show. He got up from his sitting spot, climbed across logs in the enclosure, grabbed another bamboo stalk, leaned back and started to chew again. Each movement was captured by dozens of smartphones. Molnar and Bradley J.
Fikes, who contributed to this report, work for the San Diego Union-Tribune. He is an award-winning New Jersey, California and national reporter. He lives in Chula Vista. The L. Times holiday gift guide. Colonialism, power and race. Inside California ethnic studies classes.
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