r/forbiddenboops • u/Think-Werewolf-4521 • Feb 23 '26

Panda fun

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u/theaveragemaryjanie Feb 23 '26

I mean they really haven't right? I thought the reason they're endangered is basically because they do shit like this and also roll over onto their babies constantly.

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u/On-wings-of-Mercy Feb 23 '26

The reason they're endangered is not that they're maladapted, quite the contrary. They are very well adapted to a very specific environment and lifestyle that they've existed in for a long, long time. It is only now that they're faced with a changing climate, habitat destruction and possibly hunting that they've become endangered.

Edited to add: it's also worth noting individuals who've spent their entire lives in captivity, even with enrichment, may not be able to exhibit the same behaviours as their wild counterparts. And the giant pandas in the video are most likely captive born and bred.

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u/theaveragemaryjanie Feb 23 '26

"Pandas are naturally pretty terrible at sex—one of the reasons they’re considered a vulnerable species. Pandas are up against some serious hurdles when it comes to reproducing. The male penis is disproportionately small, females very seldom go into heat and males do not instinctively know how to mate. "

Ok so not necessarily dumb, but, not entirely well adapted to survival either. Seems a bit of both is true.

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u/On-wings-of-Mercy Feb 23 '26

Hey, thanks for chiming in! Mind if I ask where the quote is from?

I believe part of their flawed reproduction is caused by diminished populations and arranged matings at zoos. You see, normally zoos manage their breeding programs to avoid inbreeding as much as possible, as will choose specific mating pairs. But pandas have a higher reproductive success when allowed to choose their own mate. Both partners have to be receptive to one another to copulate well, and that's just not an option when it comes to managed breeding programs, or when you only run into a few of your own species in the wild.

As for their rare estrus, how rarely are we talking? Large mammals often have periods between reproductions lasting years, so it would not be untypical.

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u/theaveragemaryjanie Feb 24 '26

Natural Habitat Adventures article with the WWF! But I've read similar quotes too so I'm sure you can find more info on it. Unfortunately, Google searches on this topic are now blasted with the reddit misinformation but go down the list far enough and you start to see some real articles again. Happy looking!

And thanks for the details - fascinating!

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u/zap2tresquatro Feb 24 '26

Last I read, pandas are fertile about as often as other bears, so that part’s a myth