GITNUXREPORT 2026

Panda Statistics

This blog post covers the size, diet, habitat, and conservation status of giant pandas.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Giant pandas spend 10-16 hours per day feeding, consuming up to 38 kg of bamboo daily

Statistic 2

99% of their diet consists of bamboo, with 25-50 different species consumed seasonally

Statistic 3

Pandas select bamboo leaves with 73% nitrogen content preference

Statistic 4

Daily energy intake from bamboo is 13-17 MJ, despite low digestibility of 17-28%

Statistic 5

They defecate 40 times a day, producing 27 kg of feces with undigested bamboo fragments

Statistic 6

Pandas exhibit "leaf folding" behavior to increase bite size by 50%

Statistic 7

Seasonal diet shift: 70% culms in winter, 90% leaves in summer

Statistic 8

Water intake is minimal, only 1-2 liters daily from bamboo moisture

Statistic 9

They occasionally eat small rodents, comprising 1% of diet biomass

Statistic 10

Foraging bouts last 2-3 hours, separated by 1-hour rests

Statistic 11

Pandas travel 100-500 meters per foraging move, covering 1-2 km daily

Statistic 12

They mark territory with urine and anal gland secretions every 100-200 meters

Statistic 13

Bleating vocalizations occur 5-10 times per hour during feeding

Statistic 14

Pandas climb trees for 2-5% of active time, mostly juveniles

Statistic 15

Daily sleep is 10 hours, in sitting or lying postures under bamboo

Statistic 16

Scent marking density is 0.5 marks per km of travel path

Statistic 17

They avoid conspecifics 90% of encounters via displacement calls

Statistic 18

Hand-standing during urine marking occurs in 30% of instances

Statistic 19

Pandas prefer bamboo stands with 70-90% canopy cover for feeding

Statistic 20

They process 12-15 kg/hour of bamboo during peak feeding

Statistic 21

Dust bathing occurs 1-2 times daily for parasite control

Statistic 22

Giant pandas are solitary except during mating, with home ranges of 4-18 km² for females and 18-30 km² for males

Statistic 23

Wild population estimated at 1,864 individuals in 2014

Statistic 24

IUCN status upgraded to Vulnerable from Endangered in 2016

Statistic 25

Captive population worldwide exceeds 600 individuals in 2023 across 50+ facilities

Statistic 26

China has reintroduced 7 pandas to the wild since 2003, with 2 surviving long-term

Statistic 27

Poaching incidents dropped 95% since 1999 due to enforcement, from 21 to 1 per year

Statistic 28

Giant Panda National Park established in 2021 covers 27,134 km² protecting 70% of habitat

Statistic 29

Bamboo flowering die-offs affect 20% of population cyclically every 40-100 years

Statistic 30

Habitat protection increased from 1.39 million ha in 2012 to 2.58 million ha in 2020

Statistic 31

Genetic diversity in wild pandas is 0.75 heterozygosity, higher than expected

Statistic 32

66 panda reserves protect 53% of remaining habitat as of 2014

Statistic 33

Population growth rate in the wild is 2.6% annually from 2014-2020

Statistic 34

Rodenticide poisoning kills 10-15 pandas per year indirectly

Statistic 35

Translocation programs moved 10 pandas between habitats 2015-2022

Statistic 36

Disease surveillance detects 5% prevalence of canine distemper in wild pandas

Statistic 37

Funding for panda conservation reached $100 million annually by 2022 from government and NGOs

Statistic 38

Infant mortality in wild is 30-40%, reduced to 10% in captivity

Statistic 39

Corridor construction connected 12 habitat patches by 2020, aiding gene flow

Statistic 40

Tourism generates $1.5 billion yearly for local communities near reserves

Statistic 41

Climate change projected to reduce habitat by 9-36% by 2100 under RCP4.5

Statistic 42

Fecal glucocorticoid levels indicate stress in 25% of fragmented populations

Statistic 43

Giant pandas primarily inhabit the mountainous regions of central China, specifically in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces

Statistic 44

The total wild habitat range covers about 23,000 square kilometers across six major mountain ranges

Statistic 45

Elevation range for panda habitat is between 1,200 to 3,500 meters above sea level

Statistic 46

Qinling Mountains host the only population of Qinling pandas, a subspecies, spanning 8,000 km²

Statistic 47

Xiaoxiangling Mountains have a panda density of 1.5 individuals per 10 km²

Statistic 48

Bamboo forests constitute 99% of panda habitat, with old-growth forests preferred, covering 70% of range

Statistic 49

Annual rainfall in panda habitats averages 1,000-1,200 mm, mostly in summer

Statistic 50

Temperatures in habitats range from -10°C in winter to 25°C in summer

Statistic 51

Conifer forests mixed with broadleaf trees cover 40% of panda home ranges

Statistic 52

River valleys within habitats provide migration corridors used by 60% of pandas annually

Statistic 53

Deforestation has reduced habitat by 50% since 1974, from 24,500 to 12,000 km² suitable areas

Statistic 54

Minshan Mountains support 50% of the wild panda population

Statistic 55

Qionglai Mountains have habitat fragmentation into 18 patches averaging 200 km² each

Statistic 56

Liangshan Mountains host 30% of pandas with habitat connectivity index of 0.6

Statistic 57

Snow cover lasts 4-6 months in higher elevations of panda habitats

Statistic 58

72 protected areas cover 67% of panda habitat as of 2020

Statistic 59

Habitat carrying capacity estimated at 1,800-2,500 pandas

Statistic 60

Road density in panda habitats averages 0.2 km/km², fragmenting 20% of areas

Statistic 61

Fog occurrence is 200 days per year in panda habitats, aiding thermoregulation

Statistic 62

Soil pH in bamboo habitats ranges 4.5-6.0, optimal for Fargesia bamboo

Statistic 63

Wind speeds average 2-5 m/s in panda valleys

Statistic 64

15% of panda habitat overlaps with human agricultural lands

Statistic 65

Seismic activity affects 40% of panda habitats annually with magnitude 4+ quakes

Statistic 66

Adult male giant pandas typically weigh between 85 to 125 kilograms, with an average of around 100 kg

Statistic 67

Adult female giant pandas weigh between 70 to 100 kilograms on average

Statistic 68

Giant pandas have a body length ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 meters excluding the tail

Statistic 69

The tail of a giant panda measures 10 to 15 centimeters in length

Statistic 70

Giant pandas possess black fur patches around their eyes, which are approximately 10 cm in diameter

Statistic 71

The black fur on a giant panda's limbs covers about 20-30% of their foreleg surface area

Statistic 72

Giant pandas have a bite force quotient of around 1.6 times that of a lion, estimated at 1298 Newtons

Statistic 73

Their skull is characterized by a sagittal crest that is 2-3 cm high in adults

Statistic 74

Giant pandas have 42 teeth, including large molars adapted for grinding bamboo

Statistic 75

The pseudo-thumb of giant pandas is a modified sesamoid bone that extends 2-3 cm beyond the wrist

Statistic 76

Giant pandas' fur density is about 400-500 hairs per square centimeter on the back

Statistic 77

Their paw pads are covered with rough papillae for better grip on bamboo, measuring 1-2 mm in height

Statistic 78

Adult giant pandas have a shoulder height of 60-70 cm

Statistic 79

The white fur areas on giant pandas reflect up to 80% of sunlight for camouflage in snow

Statistic 80

Giant pandas' olfactory bulb is 5 times larger relative to brain size compared to other bears

Statistic 81

Their incisors are 1.5 cm long, adapted for stripping bamboo leaves

Statistic 82

Giant pandas have a rounded head with ears 6-7 cm long

Statistic 83

The black shoulder patches cover approximately 15% of total body surface area

Statistic 84

Their claws are 4 cm long and curved for climbing

Statistic 85

Giant pandas' heart rate averages 80-100 beats per minute at rest

Statistic 86

Their blood pressure systolic is around 140-160 mmHg

Statistic 87

Giant pandas have a body temperature maintained at 37.5-38°C

Statistic 88

The tongue length is 20 cm, aiding in bamboo manipulation

Statistic 89

Their eye pupils are vertical slits, unique among bears

Statistic 90

Giant pandas' vocal sac allows calls up to 100 dB

Statistic 91

Their skin thickness is 2-3 mm under fur

Statistic 92

Giant pandas have 28 vertebrae in the cervical region adapted for flexibility

Statistic 93

The liver weighs about 2.5 kg in adults

Statistic 94

Their brain weight is approximately 400 grams

Statistic 95

Giant pandas' metabolic rate is 25% lower than expected for placental mammals of similar size

Statistic 96

Giant pandas reach sexual maturity at 4-7 years for females and 6-8 years for males

Statistic 97

Mating season occurs March-May, with females receptive for 2-3 days only

Statistic 98

Gestation period averages 138 days, ranging 85-160 days due to delayed implantation

Statistic 99

Litter size is usually 1-2 cubs, with twins in 50% of pregnancies but only one reared

Statistic 100

Newborn cubs weigh 90-130 grams, 1/900th of mother's weight

Statistic 101

Cubs open eyes at 6-8 weeks and are weaned at 6-8 months

Statistic 102

Maternal care lasts 18-24 months until independence

Statistic 103

Females breed every 2 years in the wild

Statistic 104

Male courtship involves vocalizing and hand-standing 20-30 times per session

Statistic 105

Lifespan in wild averages 15-20 years, up to 30 in captivity

Statistic 106

Twinning rate in captivity is 60%, with artificial twinning rearing success 90%

Statistic 107

Cub growth rate is 50g/day initially, reaching 10 kg by 6 months

Statistic 108

Estrus detected by urine hormone peaks of 200 ng/ml progesterone

Statistic 109

Sperm count in males averages 60 million per ejaculate

Statistic 110

Implantation delay lasts 5-6 months

Statistic 111

Play behavior in cubs peaks at 6-12 months, 20% of activity budget

Statistic 112

Dispersal age for males is 18-24 months, females philopatric 70%

Statistic 113

Fertility rate in captive females over 5 years old is 70%

Statistic 114

Birth peak is mid-August, with 80% of cubs born August-September

Statistic 115

Parental investment: females abandon smaller twin in 90% cases if both survive first week

Statistic 116

Age at first reproduction in wild females averages 5.5 years

Statistic 117

Male reproductive skew: top 20% males sire 60% offspring in populations

1/117

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

At first glance a giant panda seems like a cuddly herbivore, but behind that adorable face lies a powerful bite stronger than a lion's and a survival story intricately tied to the specific bamboo forests and mountain ranges of central China.

Key Takeaways

Adult male giant pandas typically weigh between 85 to 125 kilograms, with an average of around 100 kg
Adult female giant pandas weigh between 70 to 100 kilograms on average
Giant pandas have a body length ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 meters excluding the tail
Giant pandas primarily inhabit the mountainous regions of central China, specifically in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces
The total wild habitat range covers about 23,000 square kilometers across six major mountain ranges
Elevation range for panda habitat is between 1,200 to 3,500 meters above sea level
Giant pandas spend 10-16 hours per day feeding, consuming up to 38 kg of bamboo daily
99% of their diet consists of bamboo, with 25-50 different species consumed seasonally
Pandas select bamboo leaves with 73% nitrogen content preference
Wild population estimated at 1,864 individuals in 2014
IUCN status upgraded to Vulnerable from Endangered in 2016
Captive population worldwide exceeds 600 individuals in 2023 across 50+ facilities
Giant pandas reach sexual maturity at 4-7 years for females and 6-8 years for males
Mating season occurs March-May, with females receptive for 2-3 days only
Gestation period averages 138 days, ranging 85-160 days due to delayed implantation

This blog post covers the size, diet, habitat, and conservation status of giant pandas.

Behavior and Diet

Giant pandas spend 10-16 hours per day feeding, consuming up to 38 kg of bamboo daily
99% of their diet consists of bamboo, with 25-50 different species consumed seasonally
Pandas select bamboo leaves with 73% nitrogen content preference
Daily energy intake from bamboo is 13-17 MJ, despite low digestibility of 17-28%
They defecate 40 times a day, producing 27 kg of feces with undigested bamboo fragments
Pandas exhibit "leaf folding" behavior to increase bite size by 50%
Seasonal diet shift: 70% culms in winter, 90% leaves in summer
Water intake is minimal, only 1-2 liters daily from bamboo moisture
They occasionally eat small rodents, comprising 1% of diet biomass
Foraging bouts last 2-3 hours, separated by 1-hour rests
Pandas travel 100-500 meters per foraging move, covering 1-2 km daily
They mark territory with urine and anal gland secretions every 100-200 meters
Bleating vocalizations occur 5-10 times per hour during feeding
Pandas climb trees for 2-5% of active time, mostly juveniles
Daily sleep is 10 hours, in sitting or lying postures under bamboo
Scent marking density is 0.5 marks per km of travel path
They avoid conspecifics 90% of encounters via displacement calls
Hand-standing during urine marking occurs in 30% of instances
Pandas prefer bamboo stands with 70-90% canopy cover for feeding
They process 12-15 kg/hour of bamboo during peak feeding
Dust bathing occurs 1-2 times daily for parasite control
Giant pandas are solitary except during mating, with home ranges of 4-18 km² for females and 18-30 km² for males

Behavior and Diet Interpretation

Despite their comically voracious and hilariously inefficient bamboo buffet—processing a small car’s worth of leaves only to swiftly deposit most of it as recognizable souvenirs—the panda’s entire existence is a masterclass in relentless, solitary specialization, proving that true dedication looks a lot like eating your way through a forest and then napping in the wreckage.

Conservation and Population

Wild population estimated at 1,864 individuals in 2014
IUCN status upgraded to Vulnerable from Endangered in 2016
Captive population worldwide exceeds 600 individuals in 2023 across 50+ facilities
China has reintroduced 7 pandas to the wild since 2003, with 2 surviving long-term
Poaching incidents dropped 95% since 1999 due to enforcement, from 21 to 1 per year
Giant Panda National Park established in 2021 covers 27,134 km² protecting 70% of habitat
Bamboo flowering die-offs affect 20% of population cyclically every 40-100 years
Habitat protection increased from 1.39 million ha in 2012 to 2.58 million ha in 2020
Genetic diversity in wild pandas is 0.75 heterozygosity, higher than expected
66 panda reserves protect 53% of remaining habitat as of 2014
Population growth rate in the wild is 2.6% annually from 2014-2020
Rodenticide poisoning kills 10-15 pandas per year indirectly
Translocation programs moved 10 pandas between habitats 2015-2022
Disease surveillance detects 5% prevalence of canine distemper in wild pandas
Funding for panda conservation reached $100 million annually by 2022 from government and NGOs
Infant mortality in wild is 30-40%, reduced to 10% in captivity
Corridor construction connected 12 habitat patches by 2020, aiding gene flow
Tourism generates $1.5 billion yearly for local communities near reserves
Climate change projected to reduce habitat by 9-36% by 2100 under RCP4.5
Fecal glucocorticoid levels indicate stress in 25% of fragmented populations

Conservation and Population Interpretation

The panda's tale is one of hard-won, precarious hope: its numbers are climbing thanks to monumental effort and funding, yet this celebrated success remains perpetually stalked by ancient bamboo cycles, modern diseases, and the creeping stress of a fragmented world.

Habitat and Distribution

Giant pandas primarily inhabit the mountainous regions of central China, specifically in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces
The total wild habitat range covers about 23,000 square kilometers across six major mountain ranges
Elevation range for panda habitat is between 1,200 to 3,500 meters above sea level
Qinling Mountains host the only population of Qinling pandas, a subspecies, spanning 8,000 km²
Xiaoxiangling Mountains have a panda density of 1.5 individuals per 10 km²
Bamboo forests constitute 99% of panda habitat, with old-growth forests preferred, covering 70% of range
Annual rainfall in panda habitats averages 1,000-1,200 mm, mostly in summer
Temperatures in habitats range from -10°C in winter to 25°C in summer
Conifer forests mixed with broadleaf trees cover 40% of panda home ranges
River valleys within habitats provide migration corridors used by 60% of pandas annually
Deforestation has reduced habitat by 50% since 1974, from 24,500 to 12,000 km² suitable areas
Minshan Mountains support 50% of the wild panda population
Qionglai Mountains have habitat fragmentation into 18 patches averaging 200 km² each
Liangshan Mountains host 30% of pandas with habitat connectivity index of 0.6
Snow cover lasts 4-6 months in higher elevations of panda habitats
72 protected areas cover 67% of panda habitat as of 2020
Habitat carrying capacity estimated at 1,800-2,500 pandas
Road density in panda habitats averages 0.2 km/km², fragmenting 20% of areas
Fog occurrence is 200 days per year in panda habitats, aiding thermoregulation
Soil pH in bamboo habitats ranges 4.5-6.0, optimal for Fargesia bamboo
Wind speeds average 2-5 m/s in panda valleys
15% of panda habitat overlaps with human agricultural lands
Seismic activity affects 40% of panda habitats annually with magnitude 4+ quakes

Habitat and Distribution Interpretation

Despite their stubbornly specialized, vertically-oriented, bamboo-chomping lifestyle across China's misty mountains, pandas are locked in a surprisingly precarious real estate saga of shrinking territory, seismic disturbances, and human encroachment.

Physical Characteristics

Adult male giant pandas typically weigh between 85 to 125 kilograms, with an average of around 100 kg
Adult female giant pandas weigh between 70 to 100 kilograms on average
Giant pandas have a body length ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 meters excluding the tail
The tail of a giant panda measures 10 to 15 centimeters in length
Giant pandas possess black fur patches around their eyes, which are approximately 10 cm in diameter
The black fur on a giant panda's limbs covers about 20-30% of their foreleg surface area
Giant pandas have a bite force quotient of around 1.6 times that of a lion, estimated at 1298 Newtons
Their skull is characterized by a sagittal crest that is 2-3 cm high in adults
Giant pandas have 42 teeth, including large molars adapted for grinding bamboo
The pseudo-thumb of giant pandas is a modified sesamoid bone that extends 2-3 cm beyond the wrist
Giant pandas' fur density is about 400-500 hairs per square centimeter on the back
Their paw pads are covered with rough papillae for better grip on bamboo, measuring 1-2 mm in height
Adult giant pandas have a shoulder height of 60-70 cm
The white fur areas on giant pandas reflect up to 80% of sunlight for camouflage in snow
Giant pandas' olfactory bulb is 5 times larger relative to brain size compared to other bears
Their incisors are 1.5 cm long, adapted for stripping bamboo leaves
Giant pandas have a rounded head with ears 6-7 cm long
The black shoulder patches cover approximately 15% of total body surface area
Their claws are 4 cm long and curved for climbing
Giant pandas' heart rate averages 80-100 beats per minute at rest
Their blood pressure systolic is around 140-160 mmHg
Giant pandas have a body temperature maintained at 37.5-38°C
The tongue length is 20 cm, aiding in bamboo manipulation
Their eye pupils are vertical slits, unique among bears
Giant pandas' vocal sac allows calls up to 100 dB
Their skin thickness is 2-3 mm under fur
Giant pandas have 28 vertebrae in the cervical region adapted for flexibility
The liver weighs about 2.5 kg in adults
Their brain weight is approximately 400 grams
Giant pandas' metabolic rate is 25% lower than expected for placental mammals of similar size

Physical Characteristics Interpretation

While nature outfitted the giant panda with the dental hardware of a apex predator, the metabolism of a sloth, and the grip of a seasoned rock climber, it seemingly used all that engineering prowess to perfect the art of being a delightfully fussy vegetarian.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Giant pandas reach sexual maturity at 4-7 years for females and 6-8 years for males
Mating season occurs March-May, with females receptive for 2-3 days only
Gestation period averages 138 days, ranging 85-160 days due to delayed implantation
Litter size is usually 1-2 cubs, with twins in 50% of pregnancies but only one reared
Newborn cubs weigh 90-130 grams, 1/900th of mother's weight
Cubs open eyes at 6-8 weeks and are weaned at 6-8 months
Maternal care lasts 18-24 months until independence
Females breed every 2 years in the wild
Male courtship involves vocalizing and hand-standing 20-30 times per session
Lifespan in wild averages 15-20 years, up to 30 in captivity
Twinning rate in captivity is 60%, with artificial twinning rearing success 90%
Cub growth rate is 50g/day initially, reaching 10 kg by 6 months
Estrus detected by urine hormone peaks of 200 ng/ml progesterone
Sperm count in males averages 60 million per ejaculate
Implantation delay lasts 5-6 months
Play behavior in cubs peaks at 6-12 months, 20% of activity budget
Dispersal age for males is 18-24 months, females philopatric 70%
Fertility rate in captive females over 5 years old is 70%
Birth peak is mid-August, with 80% of cubs born August-September
Parental investment: females abandon smaller twin in 90% cases if both survive first week
Age at first reproduction in wild females averages 5.5 years
Male reproductive skew: top 20% males sire 60% offspring in populations

Reproduction and Life Cycle Interpretation

The panda's reproductive strategy is a masterclass in efficiency, treating procreation like a high-stakes, once-in-a-while gala where everything must be perfect, from the male's acrobatic courtship to the mother's brutally pragmatic childcare, all to produce a remarkably underdone cub that takes years of doting to become an adult capable of starting the whole exacting process over again.

Sources & References

Logos provided by Logo.dev