The Giant panda : the ICONIC black and white bear of China

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a black-and-white bear native to China. It has distinctive black patches around its eyes, ears, and limbs. Pandas primarily live in bamboo forests and rely almost entirely on bamboo for food, although they occasionally eat small animals or other plants. Unlike other bears, pandas do not hibernate and spend most of their time eating and resting.

They are a symbol of wildlife conservation and were once endangered, but conservation efforts have helped increase their population. Pandas are also an important cultural symbol in China and are sometimes used in diplomacy.