Panda Power!

With their tuxedo coats, roly-poly walks, and undeniable cuteness, pandas are the rockstars of the animal kingdom. But beyond the viral videos of pandas tumbling down slides or munching bamboo like it’s going out of style, there’s a bigger story: pandas are a living example of how conservation really can turn things around.

Why Pandas Are Awesome

1. They’re bears… but also not really. Pandas are in the bear family, but instead of hunting, they eat bamboo 12+ hours a day.
1. Bamboo superpowers. Even though their diet is almost entirely bamboo, pandas still have the digestive system of a carnivore. That means they have to eat up to 40 pounds of bamboo every single day just to stay full.
1. The “sixth finger” hack. Pandas have an extra wrist bone that works like a thumb, helping them grab bamboo stalks like chopsticks. Built-in panda cutlery!
1. Professional clowns of the animal world. Pandas are naturally clumsy, tumbling, rolling, and belly-flopping their way through life. Scientists think their playful behaviour helps them practice coordination.

A Conservation Success Story

Back in the 1980s, things weren’t looking good for pandas. Habitat loss and low birth rates had their numbers dwindling, and it seemed possible that pandas might go extinct within our lifetimes. Then came a massive push for change:

• Protected nature reserves were created across China to safeguard panda habitats.
• Reforestation projects helped restore bamboo forests, ensuring pandas wouldn’t run out of their favourite food.
• Captive breeding programs developed techniques to help pandas thrive and reintroduce some into the wild.

In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) officially reclassified pandas from “endangered” to “vulnerable.” Wild panda numbers have steadily climbed past 1,800, and the momentum continues.

Panda Power!

Watch our Panda Power episode to learn more and even have a panda sing-along!