Even pandas get lonely
Until now, scientists have been convinced that pandas are solitary and reclusive animals. But a new study reveals they enjoy spending time together. And who wouldn't want to hang out with these endearing creatures?
Food matters - and so does good company
In the wild, pandas roam China's bamboo-clad mountain ranges, eating 10 to 20 kilograms (22 to 44 pounds) of the plant a day. But who wants to eat alone? A shared feast is twice as tasty!
Better together
Pandas are no loners, say scientists in the US and China. They put GPS collars on five pandas and tracked them over two years. To the researchers' surprise, three of the animals spent much of the fall - outside the spring mating season - living side-by-side.
Privacy, please!
The endangered giant panda is an elusive animal. Until now, scientists have usually monitored them in zoos and breeding centers. It isn’t easy to spot them in their natural habitat: the dense and inaccessible forests of southeastern China. Active at night, they sleep through the day in caves or hollow tree trunks.
Romance? Not today ...
Even though the study suggests pandas are more sociable than previously thought, their relationships tend to be platonic. Female pandas are only sexually receptive for two days each year - the rest of the time, anything more than friendship is off the menu.
First steps
Panda cubs are always a sensation - whether they are born in the wild or in captivity. The cute, furry youngsters begin to crawl at 75 to 80 days old. These are the first steps of a long journey - pandas live for 20 or even 30 years.
Blind, toothless, naked
There is little glamour to a panda's start in life. Weighing just 90 to 120 grams (3 to 4 ounces), with a long tail and no fur, a newborn panda cub looks more like mouse or mole than the iconic beast it will grow into.
How to save a sex-shy species
Scientists have carried out extensive research aimed at saving the giant panda from extinction. Now, they can predict a female's sexually receptive days from her body language. From there, artificial insemination is the method of choice. In this case, reproduction is more a matter of survival than romance.
A pile of pandas
The survival of the giant panda has become a national cause in China. With the latest figures showing their numbers rose from 268 to 1,864 over the last decade, there could finally be something to celebrate. And now we know that pandas do in fact enjoy one another’s company, perhaps they should throw a party, too.