Animals are given labels based on their physical or behavioral characteristics. On land, the lion is known as the king of the jungle; At sea, this position is given to the great white shark. Big and strong giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) had everything to have the reputation of being feared, but they ended up being recognized as being too clumsy.
But after all, are pandas really careless or is it a natural behavior? Experts consulted by Metropolises Guarantee: The panda’s reputation for clumsiness is not so fair.
“Giant pandas seem clumsy, but this is more of an impression than a real problem. Their behavior is naturally slower and more relaxed, which gives the impression of a lack of coordination,” emphasizes biology professor Emanuele Abreu, from Colégio Católica Brasília.
This label is mainly due to the large number of videos and images distributed on the Internet, in which the animal falls or rolls on the ground. By learning about the animals only through clicks, it ended up creating an impression of carelessness on their part.
According to Emanuele, these falls usually occur while playing or exploring the environment in which they live. “Normally, falls are caused by puppies,” specifies the specialist.
But this characteristic also presents a benefit for the protection of the species. The reputation of being clumsy combined with the look considered “cute” by human perception, generates empathy and, therefore, increases our feeling of protection towards animals.
“They are considered so charismatic by people that they have become a symbol of conservation, a sort of “flag” species to protect animals. This even encourages investment in the conservation of other less charismatic animals,” reveals biologist Matheus Vasconcelos.
Pandas’ favorite food is bamboo
What makes pandas so clumsy?
Pandas are not clumsy by choice but by their physical attributes. It all starts with the large and heavy body – some can weigh more than 100 kg – which disrupts balance. The animals still have short, rounded legs, making it difficult to move quickly and agilely.
The animal is a “cousin” of bears, but vegetarian. Even though it has an organism perfectly adapted to fill itself with meat, its favorite food is bamboo. However, this comes at a price: to get enough nutrition, they need large daily amounts of the plant — it’s like eating a feijoada every day and then exercising, you’ll definitely slow down, just like the pandinhas.
“Curiosity, playful behavior and the rugged terrain of the mountain forests where they live contribute to occasional slips and falls,” says the teacher.
Do falls pose a risk to the species?
With so many factors at play, are pandas constantly getting seriously injured? Not so much. Experts reveal that a body structure with strong bones and very resilient muscles protects against most accidents. For Vasconcelos, what harms the survival of animals the most is low reproduction rates or illegal hunting.
“In the wild, they are not really easy prey, because they are rarely attacked by other predators, except by cowardly humans. The low reproduction rate is the biggest obstacle to the survival of the species,” explains the biologist.
In recent years, the species has been reclassified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “vulnerable”. While this seems like a bad categorization, it’s a victory given that previously the animals were classified as “endangered.” The change happened thanks to the efforts of conservation groups in China, a country where the animals originated.
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