Panda
In Chinese culture, the panda is considered a national treasure. It is the symbol between strength and wisdom. Its name means "Big cat-bear". It lives in large, humid bamboo forests in remote mountainous areas of China.
The first trace of the giant panda dates back more than 8 million years. Despite its appearance of a big teddy bear, it is indeed a carnivorous mammal. Strange, since it feeds mainly on plants such as bamboo. He eats 12 to 38 kg of bamboo per day, or 40% of his weight. He spends about 14 hours a day eating and his average weight is 120kg. Its life expectancy is 15 to 20 years. He has a very fine sense of hearing and smell. However, he has very poor eyesight.
The panda is considered a solitary and independent animal that spends a lot of time eating and resting. One of its peculiarities is its thumb or "sixth finger" which allows it to grasp the stems of the bamboo.
If the panda is idolized by the Chinese, it is even more so by their government. This two-tone bear is invaluable and the state deploys many means to protect it. They are also included in trade agreements and are loaned by the country to other nations. However, all will return to where they came from.
Beyond this cherished species, China has significant biodiversity. We find the Asian Black Bear, the Chinese Alligator, the Baji or Chinese Dolphin, the Brown Rhinopithecus (another species endemic to China), the Golden Pheasant, the Ili Pika, the Red-crowned Crane, the Chinese cobra, Chinese giant salamander, etc. Unfortunately, most of these species are on the verge of extinction due to their loss of habitat or even human activities. Other species are emblematic, such as the red panda or the short-tailed pangolin.
Like the other animals found on the territory, the rise of human activities has reduced the panda's range, which is gradually shrinking. If it remains an emblematic animal in China, it is today, unfortunately, on the red list of animals threatened with extinction.
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