The Giant Panda is native to south central China. The name "Giant Panda" is used to distinguish the Ailuropoda melanoleuca the other, non-related Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens). A common symbol in China, the panda is a peaceful, beautiful creature that typically dines on bamboo.
The word panda was borrowed into English from French, but no conclusive explanation of the origin of the French word panda has been found. Over the past centuries, the Chinese have given the panda bear over 20 different names.
Pandas spend their lives roaming and feeding on bamboo in the mountainous forests of China. The average amount of bamboo the panda consumes can be up to 30 pounds each day!