The Giant Panda

       As we all know, the giant panda is China’s national treasure(国宝), because it is native to China. It is also a symbol of WWF (World Wild Foundation) since 1961. Did you know that Fuwa Jingjing, one of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games mascots(吉祥物), is a lovely panda? That is because the giant panda is a symbol of peace and friendship.

       A giant panda is a kind of bear. It has a white face with black patches around its eyes. It also has black ears, arms and legs. The rest of the body is white. People also say it has white and black coat. Although they have a round body, they are good at climbing trees. And it can also walk on two legs just like people. It is so cute and rare that people all over the world like it.

      The giant panda lives mainly in bamboo forests high in the mountains of western China. They once lived in the lowland areas, but farming, forest clearing, and other human activities made giant pandas move to the mountains again.

      They are very lovely and quiet. And they like to live alone. Pandas in the wild usually eat bamboo. Sometimes, they also eat mice or birds. In zoos, their menu includes, bamboo, apples and carrots. A giant panda can eat as much as 30 kilograms of bamboo a day, because they need to eat a lot to stay healthy. The giant panda's paw has a "thumb" and five fingers; the "thumb" helps it to hold bamboo while eating.

        However, pandas are in great danger. People cut down so many bamboo forests, so pandas are losing their homes. Pandas also do not have enough food to eat. And their living environment are polluted(被污染). Some people even kill them for their beautiful coat. Now, the panda becomes fewer and fewer. It is one of the most endangered species(物种) in the world. A 2015 report shows there are about 1,590 pandas living in the wild. We must save the pandas. We can help to plant more bamboo trees and call on more people to reduce(减少) pollution. And we mustn’t kill them. Let’s try our best to protect the giant panda.

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