Giant pandas are native to central China and live in bamboo forests in the mountains. These iconic black and white bears spend most of their day eating bamboo, consuming up to 40 pounds daily. Despite their carnivorous ancestry, pandas are herbivores and rarely hunt other animals. A newborn panda cub weighs only about 3.5 ounces at birth, making it one of the smallest newborns relative to adult body size in the animal kingdom. Pandas have a special bone in their wrist that acts like a thumb, helping them grip bamboo stalks. These gentle giants are considered a symbol of peace and conservation worldwide.