LIVE GIANT PANDA WEBCAM IN CHINA

More info: The Wolong Panda Centre is concerned with scientific research, captive breeding and reintroduction of pandas into the wild. A large bamboo forest covering 275.6 hectares (about 680 acres) is being planted for the captive Giant Pandas.

Giant pandas are also called great pandas, parti-colored bears, bamboo bears and white bears and in the wild, are only found in the remote, mountainous regions of central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. In these areas, between 5,000 and 10,000 feet are the cool, wet bamboo forests that giant panda's call home.

Giant pandas make their dens from hollowed-out logs or stumps of conifer trees found within the forest. Giant pandas spend around 12 hours a day eating bamboo and consume about 12.5 kg. The pandas have to consume large amounts of bamboo as it is quite low in nutrients and for this reason they will seek out new plants with fresh shoots and leaves. Giant pandas have a special bone that extends from their wrists called a "pseudo-thumb," which helps them to hold and manipulate the bamboo.

Additional Information:
Animal Diversity Web
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library
Animal Facts Encyclopedia