Human Body Parts

Connor's second-grade class went on a field trip to the zoo. The class saw lions, seals, snakes, birds, and many other kinds of animals. As they were walking around the outdoor jungle exhibits, one of the zoo keepers came over to Mrs. Frankel, their teacher, and said, "Would your class like to see a newborn baby animal? We are just going to start a feeding." "How exciting," Mrs. Frankel said. "We'd love to."

So Connor and his classmates followed the zookeeper to a small room. In one of the handlers' hands was the smallest baby animal Conner had ever seen! The handler held up the baby for the class to see. The class stared and wondered, What will it grow up to be?

It is a panda bear!

Pandas are born, live and weigh only 85 - 140 grams (about 5 ounces). The female panda gives birth once a year to one or two cubs, but only one will survive. This is because baby pandas require a tremendous amount of care. Panda cubs are blind when they are born, but their eyes open after three to four weeks. The mother panda spends approximately 12 hours of each day feeding her young, often staying with her cut for ten consecutive days without feeding herself. The mother does this because panda cubs are extremely vulnerable while the mother is away feeding on bamboo.