Male giant panda Bao Li in his habitat at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Oct. 24, 2024. Roshan Patel, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

In addition, giant panda are excellent climbers, with cubs able to clamber up trees when they are just 6 months old. They can also swim and, unlike most other bears, do not hibernate for months at ...

The giant panda was once widespread throughout southern and eastern China, as well as neighbouring Myanmar and northern Vietnam. But due to expanding human populations and development, the species is ...