More information on panda bears

_Elsa_

‘Large males may attain 1.8 metres (6 feet) in length and weigh more than 100 kg (220 pounds); females are usually smaller. Round black ears and black eye patches stand out against a white face and neck. Black limbs, tail, legs, and shoulders contrast with the white torso. The rear paws point inward, which gives pandas a waddling gait. Pandas can easily stand on their hind legs and are commonly observed somersaulting, rolling, and dust-bathing. Although somewhat awkward as climbers, pandas readily ascend trees and, on the basis of their resemblance to bears, are probably capable of swimming. An unusual anatomic characteristic is an enlarged wrist bone that functions somewhat like a thumb, enabling pandas to handle food with considerable dexterity. 

Relative to the mother, giant pandas produce the smallest offspring of any placental mammal (about 1/800 of the mother’s weight). For the first two to three weeks of life, the mother uses her forepaws and her thumblike wrist bones to cuddle and position the infant against herself in a rather uncarnivore-like and almost human fashion. Nearly half of the 133 captive births recorded before 1998 were of twins, but panda mothers are typically unable to care for more than one infant. Reasons for the extremely small size of the offspring and the frequent production of twins are not understood, but both are traits shared with bears. (Info here) 

Tiffi thinks that it’s really sad that the Momma Bear is only capable of caring for one infant. So, if she has twins, what happens to the other infant? 

Tiffi is really upset about this so she does another search on what happens to the other twin. She finds a really great article and how they were able to save both twins: The panda who didn’t know she had twins. 

Reading this last article makes our Tiffi happy again. 

Let’s continue - Tiffi and Yeti meet at Bamboo Forest

Start at the beginning - The story of Pan-Pan and Ling-Ling