On March 16, the United States commemorates National Panda Bear Day, with the purpose of joining the efforts of the international community in the protection and restoration of their habitat.
A symbol of purity and stillness
The celebration of Panda Bear Day is promoted by conservationists, advocates and animal lovers. Pandas are appreciated all over the planet, but they need our support because they are in danger of extinction.
This species is highly valued and respected in Asian culture. The panda bear is a spiritual symbol, since it represents purity of spirit and stillness of the soul. It is also associated with certain qualities, such as intelligence and serenity.
An endangered species
The panda bear, also known simply as the panda or giant panda, is a species of mammal belonging to the bear family.
They feed mainly on plants such as bamboo, as well as fruits, small mammals, fish and insects. They have a dense fur that allows them to withstand low temperatures and tend to isolate themselves in their habitat, predominantly in the snowy mountains and temperate forests of southwestern China. They can weigh between 70 and 125 kilograms, with a height of up to 1.90 meters.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are approximately 1,800 of them worldwide.
One of the risk factors facing the panda bear is the reduction of its habitat, leading to the extinction of this species.
4 movies about panda bears
Here are four films, both fiction and documentary, that introduce us to the wonderful world of panda bears.
- “The Amazing Panda Adventure”. Year: 1995. Director: Christopher Cain. In this adventure movie, young Ryan travels to China during the summer vacations to join his father, who works in the Reserve for the protection and care of the panda bear, very close to Tibet. Together with Ling, a girl his age who works at the Reserve, Ryan tries to save a small panda bear, which poachers are trying to capture.
- “Kung Fu Panda”. Year: 2008. Directors: Mark Osborne and John Stevenson. In this animated feature film, Po, a clumsy and chubby panda, is chosen as the protector of the Valley of Peace, to everyone’s surprise. An ancient prophecy says that he is the hero who will save them from an enemy that is getting closer and closer.
- “Born in China”. Year: 2016. Director: Chuan Lu. This documentary immerses us in the wilderness of China and captures intimate moments with a panda and her cub, a young golden monkey who feels displaced by his younger sister and a mother snow leopard raising her two cubs.
- “Pandas”. Year: 2018. Directors: David Douglas and Drew Fellman. This short documentary film takes us to the mountains of Sichuan, China, where a researcher bonds with Qian Qian, a panda who is about to experience nature for the first time.
