Giant Panda.

Giant Panda. Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Ursidae Genus Ailuropoda Species melanoleuca Conservation Concerns Endangered due to habitat destruction. Range Central China. Habitat Bamboo forests at elevations ranging from 2,300 to 3,800 m (7,500 to 12,500 ft). Size Length: 1.5 m (5 ft). Weight: 75 to 160 kg (165 to 350 lb). Feeding Habits Giant pandas are herbivores; they mainly eat bamboo. They spend about 12 to 14 hours eating each day. Offspring Giant pandas mate between March and May. Females give birth to one or two cubs after a three- to six-month gestation period. Life Span About 20 to 30 years. Did You Know Giant pandas eat up to 38 kg (84 lb) of bamboo a day. Giant pandas are a species of bear. Only about 1,600 giant pandas remain in the wild. Giant panda paws have a long wrist bone that works like a thumb to grasp bamboo stems. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.