Where do Pandas Live and Why?

Pandas live high up in the mountains of south-west China. Here, the landscape is rugged. Vegetation consists mainly of the bamboo forest which grow in these areas . Pandas live here quite simply because they rely on bamboo. Many of China's bamboo forests exist in South-West China which is why the majority of wild Pandas live in this region.

The map shows the distribution of the Giant Pandas. In the past, Pandas have lived in other areas of China and beyond, but as climates became drier, bamboo died out and now Pandas can only inhabit mountainous areas. Pandas live predominantly over 2000m above sea level. The black on the map above shows exactly where Pandas are known to live. The major reserves in which they live, are also shown.

The difficulties facing Pandas that limit where they can live have meant that the best hope of saving the Panda lies with those being kept in reserves and zoos. You can find out more about Pandas that live in the wild and in captivity elsewhere on this site.

The bamboo on which Pandas live grows in huge cycles. With so few areas left suitable for Pandas, when bamboo fails in one area, Pandas are running out of places to move on to