In south western China lies a landscape of towering mountain peaks, steep valleys and thick bamboo forests shrouded by mist and cloud. This is the home of the world's last giant pandas. Imagine waking up in a bamboo forest of China... the mist of the clouds hanging on the branches, and a giant panda looking back at you from a nearby tree! The giant panda has been the topic of a lot of debate among scientists in recent decades over how exactly to classify the animal. It shares some characteristics with bears, and some characteristics with raccoons. In the last 20 years, scientists have been able to link the panda to both bears and raccoons, but now believe them to be most closely related to bears. They are considered a "subfamily" of the bear family (Ursidae). The giant panda is about 1.2 - 1.5 meters in length and weighs 75 - 160 kg. They have a thick coat of black and white hair and are probably one of the most recognizable animals with a white body and head, black legs, ears, and eye patches. They are found only in the bamboo forests in the mountains of central Peoples Republic of China, including the provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, and Sichuan. Pandas are usually found in the mountains at about 3000 meters above sea level. In the winter they sometimes make their way down to about 800 meters. They do not make a permanent den, but take shelter in any suitable cavity in trees or rock crevices. They do not hibernate, but instead come down to lower elevations where it is warmer and more food is available. Pandas live mainly on the ground, but are able to climb. They feed mainly on bamboo, but also eat other plants and small animals. Communication is through scent and vocalizations that range from chirps to growls. Pandas are solitary animals, but during the breeding season males may come in contact with each other and compete for access to females. Breeding season is March to May with births in August or September. Litters can be twins or triplets, but usually only single cubs are raised. Panda cubs are tiny at birth, weighing only around 100 grams and are totally dependant upon their mother for the first several months of life. About 40-60 days after birth their eyes open and they begin to walk at about 3-4 months. They begin to eat bamboo at about 5-6 months and are weaned around 8-9 months. At about 18 months of age they leave their mother. Pandas are mature at about 6 years of age. In captivity pandas have lived to be over 30 years old.