| The giant panda (Ailuropoda
melanoleuca) first appeared in the evolutionary record during the
late Pliocene or early Pleistocene, some two to three million years ago.
Panda fossils have been found in Burma, Vietnam, and particularly in
eastern China, as far north as Beijing. Pandas were once widespread in
southern and eastern China and in neighbouring Myanmar and north
Vietnam. Today, however, there are only around 1,000 left. All of these
are found in one geographic region - the bamboo forests of southwestern
China.
Giant pandas are classed as bears by most
scientists. Unlike other bears, they vocalize by bleating rather than
roaring. Until recently, giant pandas were grouped with raccoons and
lesser pandas (i.e., the Procyonidae (raccoon) family). This
decision was based primarily on physiological evidence. In the late
1980's, DNA/serological studies clearly established that giant pandas
are clearly more bear than raccoon. Some scientists want to place giant
pandas in their own grouping; but for most bear researchers, this does
not seem warranted.
The giant panda only exists at present in six
small areas located in inland China. The habitat, suitable for the
bamboo on which it survives, is a cold, damp coniferous forest. The
elevation ranges from 1,200 to 3,400 metres ( 4,000 to 11,000 feet)
high. In most of the areas in which they still roam wild, they must
compete with farmers who farm the river valleys and the lower slopes of
the mountains.
Da xiong mao,
the Chinese name for the giant panda means "great bear cat".
Chinese books, written over 3,000 years ago, talk of the giant panda.
Even then, it was believed to be endowed with mystical powers capable of
warding off natural disasters and evil spirits. The scientific name for
giant pandas, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, simply means black and
white bear.
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