What Is a Chinese Panda's Habitat?

Pandas live in areas of abundant bamboo, specifically the mountain ranges of Southwest China. These mountains lie within the Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces of China. The Sichuan province sanctuaries are home to more than 30% of the world's panda population. In the Qinling mountains, pandas can be found at elevations of 1300 - 4000 meters. The forests in the mountains are cool and wet. Pandas climb to higher elevations on the mountain as the summer heat intensifies.

There are three types of panda; The Sichuan Panda, the Qinling Panda and the Red Panda. The Sichuan Panda is the most recognizable with the familiar black and white markings normally associated with pandas. The Qinling Panda is slightly smaller, with a smaller skull and brown fur with brown markings. The Red Panda is the smallest, not much larger than a domestic cat with reddish brown fur and semi-retractable claws.

There are approximately 1,600 - 3,000 pandas left in the wild today, although, thanks to massive conservation efforts, those numbers are beginning to increase. There are 180 pandas in captivity and 20 pandas live outside China in zoos around the world.

Female pandas mate only in the Spring, once a year. They produce 1 or 2 infants but can only care for one a time. . The panda gestation period is 95 - 160 days. Babies are born white and completely helpless at only 3 to 5 ounces. The babies eyes open at one month and they will remain in the den for the first three months of life. Although they begin eating bamboo at 7 months, the mother panda will continue to feed her cub for a year and stay with her cub for three years.

The Giant Panda is on the critically endangered species list due to loss of habitat and low breeding rates. In China, animals are under state protection and many live in state sanctuaries. Because of it higher panda population, Sichuan province has become one of the most important sites for breeding pandas in captivity.