How Do Pandas Give Birth?
Quick Answer
Pandas, like all other mammals, give live birth. Pandas breed only once a year; mating season occurs from March to May, and females are in heat for 2 to 7 days. During this time, a female typically mates with several male panda bears.
Continue Reading
Full Answer
Once the female panda's egg is fertilized, it divides a few times, then floats freely in the uterus. Several weeks later, the embryo attaches to the uterine wall and develops. Baby pandas are typically born 8 weeks after the attachment of the embryo.
A pregnant panda delivers one or two cubs in a hollow tree or rock cavity. This setting is a fundamental aspect of the panda birthing process to ensure the cubs are safe from predators.
Baby panda bears weigh only 3 to 4 ounces at birth, which is approximately 1/900th of a fully-grown female's weight. If more than one panda is born, the mother typically abandons the weaker cub, leaving it to die shortly after birth. As a result, infant mortality is extremely high.
Baby pandas are born blind and do not open their eyes for at least 45 days. Cubs are also born with white skin; within 2 weeks from birth, their skin turns gray and black hairs begin to develop. Young pandas become independent from their mother at roughly 1.5 years of age.
Learn more about PandasRelated Questions
-
Q:
Why Are Pandas Endangered?
A: The primary threat giant pandas face today is habitat loss. Bamboo is the main element of their diet, and bamboo forests are becoming increasingly fragment... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Why Are Pandas Important?
A: To save the panda from extinction, the rich biodiversity such as plants, landscapes and other animals that surround the pandas must also be preserved, as i... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Where Are Pandas Located?
A: Giant pandas are native to south-central China. An endangered species, they are now found in the central Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu. T... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Do Pandas Drink?
A: Pandas drink water. Wild pandas can get much of the water they need by eating bamboo but usually need more fresh water than bamboo alone can provide. Full Answer >Filed Under:
