Bears and Pandas

Bears are cute and cuddly, right? No! Bears are among the most dangerous creatures on the planet. There are eight different kinds of bears. The polar bear is the largest species of bear and stands at nearly 3 m tall. The sun bear is the smallest species of bear and measures about 1.2 m. The brown bear, the American black bear, the Asiatic black bear, the spectacled bear, the sloth bear and the giant panda are other kinds of bears. Bears have large heads, small eyes, short muzzles, small ears and huge, powerful paws. They use their paws for grasping food, digging and defending their young. Bears are generally diurnal (most active during the day) and use shelters like caves and burrows as their dens. They have a keen sense of smell and are great climbers and swimmers. Bears live on the continents of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Giant Panda The giant panda is a large black and white bear. They live in central and western China and feed almost entirely on bamboo shoots. There are only a few hundred left in the wild due to farming and deforestation. Grizzly Bear The grizzly bear lives in North America, Europe, and Asia. Grizzly bears are also called brown bears. Grizzlies eat a variety of foods including spring shoots, autumn fruits, honey, and other animals. Black Bear There are two kinds of black bear. One can be found in North America and the other can be found in Southeast Asia. Some black bears can be dark brown and reddish brown. They are great tree climbers and can run at up to 40 km an hour. Type: Diet: Group name: Mammal Carnivore Sleuth

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Subject: Themes - Animals Sheet: Bears and pandas Read the information sheet about bears and pandas on the previous page and then answer the questions.

a) How many different species of bear are there? _______________________________ b) What is the group name for bears? _______________________________ c) Name three things that bears use their paws for. ______________________________________________________________________ d) Underline the correct answer. The largest species of bear is the: 1. black bear 3. sun bear 2. polar bear 4. giant panda

e) Diurnal means most active during the day. What do you think 'nocturnal' means? ______________________________________________________________________ f ) What do bears use as shelter? ______________________________________________________________________ g) Use the information sheet and in your own words, write a brief description about the general characteristics of bears. ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
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