CUDDLY-LOOKING WITH HIGHLY distinctive black-and-white fur and dark ‘spectacles’, the giant panda – often referred to simply as the panda – is an undeniably popular and much-loved bear, both the national animal of China and, of course, the iconic logo of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Is the giant panda really a bear?
Yes. Genetic studies have placed the giant panda in the bear family (Ursidae). However, its identity has been hotly debated – it was at one point placed in the Procyonidae.