Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China, in
Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. They once lived in
lowland areas, but farming, forest clearing, and other
development now restrict giant pandas to the mountains. Giant
pandas live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a dense
understory of bamboo, at elevations between 5,000 and 10,000
feet. Torrential rains or dense mist throughout the year
characterizes these forests, often shrouded in heavy clouds. The
giant panda, a black-and-white bear, has a body typical of
bears. It has black fur on ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs, and
shoulders. The rest of the animal's coat is white. Although
scientists do not know why these unusual bears are black and
white, some speculate that the bold coloring provides effective
camouflage into their shade-dappled snowy and rocky
surroundings. The panda's thick, wooly coat keeps it warm in the
cool forests of its habitat. Giant pandas have large molar teeth
and strong jaw muscles for crushing tough bamboo. M