Why Do We Love Pandas?

They remind us of ourselves

We love their dexterity - thanks partly to that "pseudo thumb", which functions as a sixth digit.

It's in the eyes

We love their big eyes because it reminds us of children (‘neoteny’ in scientific terms).

They are shy

The giant panda's enigmatic nature is in stark contrast to its sheer bulk and striking appearance.

They are cultural symbols

The panda has been made into a symbol since the 1960s. It's been used by the WWF to convince us about the importance of conservation.

They are rare

Giant Pandas are officially listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's list of endangered species. The official population figure is 1,596.

They are peaceful vegetarians

Although giant pandas are classified as a kind of meat-eater, in the wild they eat almost exclusively bamboo.

See full article/source BBC.com.

Image courtesy WWF.