World Animals
Asian Animals
Panda
Animal Kingdom: Bear, Mammal
Population: 1.000 - 1.100
Size: H: app. 0.7 m, L: 1.35 m
Weight: 75 kg - 130 kg
Life Expectancy: app. 20 years
Food source: Bamboo, Bamboo and even more bamboo
Max. speed: 32 km/h
Nutritional value: Lots of fat and farts
The panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca, lit. "black and white cat-foot"),[2]
also known as the giant panda to distinguish it from the unrelated red
panda, is a bear[3] native to south central China.[1] It is easily
recognized by the large, distinctive black patches around its eyes, over
the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order
Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo.[4] Pandas in the wild will
occasionally eat other grasses, wild tubers, or even meat in the form of
birds, rodents or carrion. In captivity, they may receive honey, eggs,
fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges, or bananas along with specially
prepared food.
The panda is a conservation reliant endangered species.[8] A 2007 report
shows 239 pandas living in captivity inside China and another 27 outside
the country.[9] Wild population estimates vary; one estimate shows that
there are about 1,590 individuals living in the wild,[9] while a 2006
study via DNA analysis estimated that this figure could be as high as
2,000 to 3,000.[10] Some reports also show that the number of pandas in
the wild is on the rise.[11][12] However, the IUCN does not believe
there is enough certainty yet to reclassify the species from Endangered
to Vulnerable.
Despite its taxonomic classification as a carnivoran, the giant panda's
diet is primarily herbivorous, consisting almost exclusively of
bamboo.[22] Pandas are born with sterile intestines, and require
bacteria obtained from their mother's feces to digest vegetation. [33]
[34] However, the giant panda still has the digestive system of a
carnivore, as well as carnivore-specific genes,[35] and thus derives
little energy and little protein from consumption of bamboo. Its ability
to digest cellulose is ascribed to the microbes in its gut.[36][37] The
giant panda is a "highly specialized" animal with "unique adaptations",
and has lived in bamboo forests for millions of years.[25] The average
giant panda eats as much as 9 to 14 kg (20 to 30 lb) of bamboo shoots a
day. Given this large diet, the giant panda can defecate up to 40 times
a day.[38] Because it consumes a diet low in nutrition, it is important
for it to keep its digestive tract full.[22] The limited energy input
imposed on it by its diet has affected the panda's behavior. The giant
panda tends to limit its social interactions and avoids steeply sloping
terrain to limit its energy expenditures.[
Peacock
Animal Kingdom: Heavy bird, Aves
Population: More than 10.000
Size: W: app. 2.1 m, L: app. 0.95 m
Weight: 2.7 kg - 6 kg
Life Expectancy: 12 years - 20 years
Food source: Nuts and insects
Max. speed: 16 km/h (75 km/h flying)
Nutritional value: Good fiber and protein
The peacock (also known as peafowl) is a medium sized bird most closely
related to the pheasant. Unlike it's common pheasant cousin that
inhabits areas of the Northern Hemisphere, the peacock is found in
warmer climate of the Southern Hemisphere, with the peacock being most
commonly found in India.
There are three main types of peacock, the African Congo peacock, the
Indian peacock and the Green peacock all of which are thought to have
originated in Asia but are today found in Africa and parts of Australia.
All of the three different species of peacock are knwon for their
elaborate male peacocks and dull, brown female peacocks (in comparison
to the males).
The male peacock is most well known for it's enormous tail feathers that
fan out behind the peacock and can be nearly two meters in length. This
colourful display of the peacock is thought to be used for both mating
and defence purposes. The male peacock attracts a female to mate with by
showing off his array of elaborate feathers, and when the male peacock
feels threatened, he will fan his tail out in order to make himself look
bigger and therefore try to intimidate approaching predators.
The peacock is an omnivorous bird and feeds on insects, plants, seeds,
and flower heads. Peacocks have also been known to munch on small
mammals and reptiles in order to supplement their diet, which ensures
that they are getting the right nutrients. Peacocks have a number of
natural predators in the wild that include wild dogs and cats, medium
sized mammals such as raccoons and even tigers have been known to hunt
peacocks.