Fossils found in southwestern China give a hint to the development of the panda’s sixth digit — a rudimentary, thumblike bone extension.
Tag Archives: Pandas
50 Years Later, Some Question Value of U.S.-China ‘Panda Diplomacy’
In 1972, China sent two pandas to the United States as a gesture of good will. In recent years, experts say the animals have taken on a new role: softening China’s authoritarian image.
A Joyful Surprise at Japan’s Oldest Zoo: The Birth of Twin Pandas
After a four-year hiatus, two 15-year-old giant pandas at last found the mood and added a new draw for one of Tokyo’s biggest tourist attractions.
For Shielding Endangered Neighbors, Pandas Make Flimsy Umbrellas
A new study challenges a common hypothesis about how protecting charismatic species also conserves animals that are less well known.
Xin Xing, Giant Panda With Progeny Around the Globe, Dies at 38
The star of China’s Chongqing Zoo was the world’s oldest panda in captivity. More than 150 of her descendants have lived in several countries.
Why Are Pandas Covering Themselves With Horse Manure?
Researchers in China spent a decade studying this question.
The National Zoo’s Panda Cub Has a Name: Xiao Qi Ji
The cub had a live birth and a social media following — everything, it seemed, but a name. Until now.
Blackpink Panda Cuddle Riles Up Chinese Internet Users
The K-pop band was accused of putting the cub at risk after the group posted video of its antics at a South Korean zoo.
National Zoo Panda Gives Birth
Mei Xiang, a 22-year-old giant panda at the Smithsonian zoo in Washington, D.C., surprised everyone last week when she appeared pregnant.
Expecting at the National Zoo: Washington Hopes to Gain a Baby Panda
Mei Xiang, a 22-year-old giant panda, has “tissue consistent with fetal development” and could deliver in a few days, according to the zoo.
I Watched These Pandas Have Sex. I’ve Never Been So Happy.
Our critic Amanda Hess explains her complicated love of watching nature reclaim civilization on the internet as humans remain in quarantine.
The Rise of the Coronavirus Nature Genre
As humanity retreats into quarantine, the internet is overgrowing with tales of a revived natural world.