Panda Predators Facts – Do Giant Pandas Have Natural Predators?

Of course yes! Any species has natural enemies, and giant pandas are no exception. A fully grown panda has few natural predators besides humans. But panda cubs are vulnerable to attacks.

What are the giant pandas’ predators?

Adult pandas almost have no natural predators in the wild due to their large size, strong muscles and isolated habitat.

The case for panda cubs is a little different. They absolutely belong to vulnerable group when born. They have to be closely guarded by adult pandas to avoid being eaten by other large animals, such as jackals, snow leopards, yellow-throated martens, eagles, etc.

• Jackals

Jackals are medium-sized omnivorous mammals of the genus Canis. Jackals and coyotes (also called the American jackal) are opportunistic omnivores, predators of small to medium-sized animals and proficient scavengers. So young pandas are also be listed in their preys.

• Snow leopards

These large and carnivorous cats are native to the mountains of South and Central Asia. They have very sharp teeth designed to quickly kill and eat their prey.

If a snow leopard finds a lone panda cub in the wild it will definitely attack it for food. Though they prefer average sized prey, like gazelles, they are known to track down panda cubs.

The number of snow leopards is decreasing sharply due to various human factors such as illegal hunting. In China, the number of snow leopards is even less than that of giant pandas.

• Yellow-throated martens

The yellow-throated marten is the largest marten in the Old World, and its tail makes up more than half its length. It is an omnivore, whose sources of food range from fruit to small deer. The yellow-throated marten is a fearless animal with few natural predators.

These animals hunt alone or in packs and in one highly publicized case, a group of these martens attacked a 3-year old panda in the wild named PingPing.

• Eagles

Eagles are large, powerfully built birds of prey, with heavy heads and beaks. Most eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from some vultures. Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large, hooked beaks, strong, muscular legs, and powerful talons.

It is estimated that the martial eagle’s eye is more than twice as long as a human eye and it has a visual acuity 3.0 to 3.6 times that of humans. This acuity enables eagles to spot potential prey from a very long distance. Panda cubs cannot escape from its eyes easily.

How do giant pandas face when they encounter enemies?

Giant pandas are solitary and peaceful animals, which will usually avoid confrontation, but if it is impossible to escape, they will certainly fight back. And as cute as they may look, pandas can protect themselves as well as most other bears by using their physical strength, and powerful jaws and teeth.

Where is the giant panda in its food chain?

Giant pandas are herbivores or omnivores, mostly in the middle of the food chain.

In a food chain, sunlight is the beginnings and the primary producers, which produces the energy to help plants grow.

The panda comes under the secondary consumer, as it uses photosynthesis to produce its food – Bamboo. While, panda cubs can also be eaten by large animals, such as jackals, snow leopards, yellow-throated martens, eagles, etc.

Decomposers such as worms, mushrooms, flies, and maggots break down dead plants and animals.

If the giant panda is extinct, will it affect the food chain?

The extinction of giant pandas may have little impact on the reality of the planet in terms of ecology.

First, their population of about two thousand is too small. It is difficult to have a great impact on the environment.

Second, the giant panda is not a carnivore, and there are almost no species that prey on giant pandas. The food chain in which it is located is too singular. So the impact is almost negligible.

How long have giant pandas been on earth?

The giant panda has lived on the earth for at least 8 million years. It is known as the “living fossil” and “China National Treasure”. It is the image ambassador of the World Wide Fund for Nature and the flagship species of biodiversity conservation in the world.

As China’s first-class protected animal, the wild giant panda has a life span of 18-20 years old, and pandas can be over 30 years old in captivity.