I'm sure you recognise this amazing animal. It's a giant panda. This unique mammal lives in China's remote mountain forests, where temperatures can get very low and the air is very thin.

The giant panda is easy to recognise thanks to its black and white coat, its large head and chunky legs. A giant panda measures about 70 to 80cm tall at the shoulder when on all four legs and weighs between 100-150kg – almost the same as four eight-year-old children.

My research has told me that bamboo (a type of grass) is the main food source of the giant panda, but this plant is so low in nutrients that pandas spend up to 16 hours a day eating it! An adult panda will eat about 650 bamboo shoots a day - about a quarter of its own body weight.

The wrist bone of a giant panda's front paws is enlarged to form a 'false' thumb. This allows the panda to grip things between its first two claws and the false thumb, which is especially useful when eating bamboo.

The giant panda's thick coat is important for keeping it warm in its cold mountainous habitat and they have a unique way of keeping in good condition. They roll on the ground and rub soil into their fur. The soil absorbs grime and when it dries and falls off, it takes the grime with it. I wouldn't recommend you try this though!

Female pandas give birth every two or three years after a pregnancy lasting four to six months. Although a panda may give birth to two or three cubs, the mother will almost always only rear one and ignore the others, which die. This is probably because a new-born cub needs lots of attention during the first few weeks of its life.

The biggest threat facing the giant panda is the destruction of its forest home. Unfortunately, much of it has been cut down for timber or cleared for houses and roads. Pandas are also still killed for their coats and can get caught in traps set for other animals.

WWF has been working to protect the giant panda for the last 26 years. In that time it has helped to create over 40 protected areas where pandas can live safely. These areas are guarded by rangers who help stop illegal activities such as chopping down trees or setting traps.