What the sources say
Giant PandaAiluropoda melanoleuca
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Giant Panda profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 52 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
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Source
01
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Ailuropoda melanoleuca (giant panda). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysa bony spare thumb
- The source says
This digit is not actually a thumb but a pad of skin overlying a radial sesamoid structure (wrist bone)
- The page saysa radial sesamoid wrist bone that works as a spare thumb
- The source says
This digit is not actually a thumb but a pad of skin overlying a radial sesamoid structure (wrist bone)
- The page saysA giant panda's paw has an extra "thumb" that isn't actually a thumb: a wrist bone called the radial sesamoid, covered by a pad of skin.
- The source says
an extra, opposable digit on the hand known as "the panda's thumb." ... This digit is not actually a thumb but a pad of skin overlying a radial sesamoid structure (wrist bone)
- The page saysIt helps the panda tear bamboo stalks and gives it increased dexterity while handling them.
- The source says
The extra digit on the panda's hand helps the panda in tearing the bamboo. This adaptation also allows increased dexterity while handling bamboo.
- The page sayswrist bone called the radial sesamoid, covered by a pad of skin, works as a spare thumb
- The source says
This digit is not actually a thumb but a pad of skin overlying a radial sesamoid structure (wrist bone)
- The page saysA wide, deep sagittal crest gives it powerful jaws
- The source says
They have a large sagittal crest that has become wider and deeper resulting in powerful jaws.
- The page saysits molars and premolars are wider and flatter than other bears', with ridges and cusps built to grind tough bamboo
- The source says
The molars and premolars are wider and flatter than other bears' and they have developed extensive ridges and cusps in order to grind tough bamboo.
- The page saysPandas are bears
- The source says
Today it is widely accepted with little doubt that that giant pandas belong to the bear family
- The page saysIts sagittal crest has grown wider and deeper, resulting in powerful jaws
- The source says
They have a large sagittal crest that has become wider and deeper resulting in powerful jaws.
- The page saysits molars and premolars are broader and flatter than other bears', with extensive ridges and cusps developed to grind tough bamboo
- The source says
The molars and premolars are wider and flatter than other bears' and they have developed extensive ridges and cusps in order to grind tough bamboo.
- The page saysfrom anti-poaching laws
- The source says
To protect the population in the wild, the Chinese government has many anti-poaching laws.
Source
02
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Giant Panda. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
- The page saysthe strongest jaws of any bear
- The source says
Pandas have the most jaw strength of any bear thanks to all the chewing and manipulating it takes to eat bamboo.
- The page saysa diet that's about 99% bamboo
- The source says
Giant pandas have also been known to eat grasses, bulbs, fruits, some insects, and even rodents and carrion—but about 99% of their diet is bamboo.
- The page saysmostly at elevations of 1,200 to 3,500 meters
- The source says
mostly at elevations between 4,000 and 11,500 feet (1,200 to 3,500 meters)
- The page saysAbout 99% bamboo
- The source says
about 99% of their diet is bamboo
- The page saysA Sixth Digit That Isn't a Finger
- The source says
They grasp bamboo stalks using their five digits and an enlarged wrist bone called a “pseudo-thumb.”
Note: sixth = the five digits plus the pseudo-thumb; a wrist bone, not a finger - The page saysThe panda's range has shrunk and become highly fragmented
- The source says
their range shrunk and became highly fragmented
- The page saysAbout 99% of everything a panda eats is bamboo
- The source says
about 99% of their diet is bamboo
- The page saysA giant panda has the most jaw strength of any bear, thanks to all the chewing and manipulating it takes to eat bamboo
- The source says
Pandas have the most jaw strength of any bear thanks to all the chewing and manipulating it takes to eat bamboo.
- The page saysThe golden cat, yellow-throated marten, dhole and weasel prey on cubs and juveniles, and a young panda is probably safe from predators once it reaches about 50 kilograms and two and a half years old
- The source says
Once a young panda reaches a weight of about 110 pounds (50 kilograms) and is about 2.5 years old, it is probably safe from predators. However, wildlife such as the golden cat, yellow-throated marten, dhole, and weasel prey on panda cubs and juveniles.
Note: 110 lbs converted to 50 kg (source's own conversion) - The page saysTo stay safe, a cub left alone climbs high into a tree and stays there until its mother returns
- The source says
To stay safe, solitary cubs scamper high in trees and remain there until their mother returns
- The page saysPandas have fewer predators today than they once did
- The source says
Today, pandas have fewer predators than they did historically.
- The page saystigers are generally not found in what remains of panda habitat, and leopards are found there in reduced numbers
- The source says
Tigers are generally not found in what remains of panda habitat, and leopards are found in reduced numbers.
- The page saysA giant panda has the most jaw strength of any bear.
- The source says
Pandas have the most jaw strength of any bear thanks to all the chewing and manipulating it takes to eat bamboo.
- The page saysa growing network of reserves
- The source says
extending the panda reserve system ... China has established 67 giant panda reserves that protect panda habitats from further development.
- The page saysmoved the species off the Endangered list and onto Vulnerable in 2016
- The source says
Until 2016, they were categorized as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. They are currently listed as Vulnerable, thanks to dedicated conservation efforts that have helped to increase their population.
Source
03
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Giant panda. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
- The page saysA carnivore-like gut
- The source says
A giant panda's digestive system is more similar to that of a carnivore than an herbivore
- The page saysBroadleaf and coniferous mountain forests thick with bamboo
- The source says
Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in south central China ... Giant pandas live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a dense understory of bamboo
- The page saysChina's Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces
- The source says
Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in south central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.
- The page saysa carnivore-like gut forces a panda to eat 32 to 45 kilograms of bamboo over 10 to 16 hours a day
- The source says
A giant panda's digestive system is more similar to that of a carnivore than an herbivore ... a panda needs to consume a comparatively large amount of food—from 70 to 100 pounds of bamboo each day ... a panda must spend 10 to 16 hours a day foraging and eating.
Note: 70-100 lbs converted to 32-45 kg - The page saysa spare thumb for gripping bamboo
- The source says
This posture leaves the front paws free to grasp bamboo stems with the help of a "pseudo thumb,"
- The page saysso much of what they eat passes straight through as waste
- The source says
so much of what is eaten is passed as waste
- The page saysThat means much of what a panda swallows passes straight through as waste instead of being absorbed.
- The source says
and so much of what is eaten is passed as waste. To make up for the inefficient digestion
- The page saysIts front paws carry a trick of their own
- The source says
This posture leaves the front paws free to grasp bamboo stems with the help of a "pseudo thumb,"
- The page saysAn enlarged, elongated wrist bone
- The source says
a "pseudo thumb," formed by an elongated and enlarged wrist bone covered with a fleshy pad of skin
- The page saysa naturally slow breeding rate keeps a population from recovering quickly from illegal hunting and habitat loss
- The source says
The giant pandas' naturally slow breeding rate prevents a population from recovering quickly from illegal hunting, habitat loss and other human-related causes of mortality.
- The page says70 to 100 pounds (32 to 45 kilograms) of bamboo a day
- The source says
a panda needs to consume a comparatively large amount of food—from 70 to 100 pounds of bamboo each day—to get all its nutrients
Note: 70-100 lbs converted to 32-45 kg - The page says10 to 16 hours a day of foraging and eating
- The source says
a panda must spend 10 to 16 hours a day foraging and eating
- The page saysroughly the size of an American black bear
- The source says
About the size of an American black bear
- The page says1.2 to 1.8 meters long and 60 to 90 centimeters at the shoulder on all fours
- The source says
giant pandas stand between 2 and 3 feet (60 to 90 centimeters) tall at the shoulder (on all four legs), and reach 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) long
- The page saysA wild male can weigh up to 113 kilograms; females rarely reach 100.
- The source says
Males are larger than females, weighing up to 250 pounds (113 kilograms) in the wild. Females rarely reach 220 pounds (104 kilograms).
Note: 220 lb is 99.8 kg; the source's own parenthetical 104 kg is a conversion error. sdzwa-panda gives the same ceiling: 'Females, 155 to 220 pounds (70 to 100 kilograms)' - The page saysScientists aren't sure how long a wild panda lives, but estimate about 15 to 20 years
- The source says
Scientists are not sure how long giant pandas live in the wild, but they are sure it is shorter than lifespans in zoos. They estimate that lifespan is about 15-20 years for wild pandas
- The page saysagainst about 30 in a zoo
- The source says
and about 30 years for those in human care
- The page saysChinese scientists have reported zoo pandas as old as 35
- The source says
Chinese scientists have reported zoo pandas as old as 35.
- The page saystheir digestive system works more like a carnivore's than a plant-eater's
- The source says
A giant panda's digestive system is more similar to that of a carnivore than an herbivore
- The page saysa few mountain ranges in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, in damp, bamboo-thick broadleaf and coniferous forest
- The source says
Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in south central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces ... Giant pandas live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a dense understory of bamboo ... Torrential rains or dense mist throughout the year characterizes these forests
- The page saysTo get enough nutrients out of bamboo, a panda eats a comparatively large amount of it: 70 to 100 pounds (32 to 45 kilograms) a day.
- The source says
a panda needs to consume a comparatively large amount of food—from 70 to 100 pounds of bamboo each day—to get all its nutrients
Note: 70-100 lbs converted to 32-45 kg - The page saysAs few as 1,864 giant pandas are estimated to live in the wild, alongside roughly 600 more in zoos and breeding centers
- The source says
As few as 1,864 giant pandas live in their native habitat, while another 600 pandas live in zoos and breeding centers around the world.
- The page saysAbout the Size of a Black Bear
- The source says
About the size of an American black bear
- The page saysPlenty of people find pandas cute, but the Smithsonian's National Zoo warns that they can be as dangerous as any other bear.
- The source says
Many people find these chunky, lumbering animals to be cute, but giant pandas can be as dangerous as any other bear.
Note: added in the #174 settle so the page states what backs stats.dangerLevel High ('Dangerous when cornered or provoked'). No cached source reports a person killed, so not Deadly. - The page saysan animal that spends 10 to 16 hours a day eating 32 to 45 kilograms of bamboo
- The source says
a panda needs to consume a comparatively large amount of food—from 70 to 100 pounds of bamboo each day—to get all its nutrients ... a panda must spend 10 to 16 hours a day foraging and eating
Note: vibe.reason; 70-100 lbs converted to 32-45 kg, as in the diet line.
Source
04
Swaisgood, Wang & Wei 2016
Swaisgood, Wang & Wei (2016). Ailuropoda melanoleuca. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T712A121745669.
- The page saysVulnerable
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.