If someone were to think about a panda’s habitat, they would probably envision the bamboo forests in Asia, right?
However, how did these beautiful creatures ever come to live in Asia to begin with? Does anyone know whether pandas live in Japan?
The answers to these questions are crucial, as they’ve become increasingly difficult to deal with a variety of climates and habitats.
The giant panda as well as the red panda are the only two species of pandas that can only be found in a unique region of the world (are there any other bears in Japan? Read more here).
There are just a few places in Asia where you can find both of these animals, but Japan is not one of them. Japan has only zoos in which you can find pandas. Having pandas in every part of the world is just a pipe dream.
The purpose of this article is to summarize all of the information regarding pandas in Japan (see also ‘Are There Tigers In Japan?‘) and what stories are currently being told about them.
We want to tell you about where pandas are most of the time and how these wonderful animals are living today.
Where Are Pandas Typically Found?
It is believed that giant pandas are only found in a few mountain ranges in south-central China. These pandas can only be found in the provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu.
Bamboo certainly is a favorite food of these pandas who live in coniferous forests with a lot of bamboo!
Pandas live in forests at a high altitude, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level, and there is often a cloud cover over their habitat because of the rain and heavy mist.
As a result of agriculture, deforestation, and other human development, giant pandas are now only found in China’s mountain ranges, not the lowland areas.
There is a bit of a range difference between red pandas and black pandas. There are red pandas in China, Nepal, India, and Tibet.
Myanmar, Sichuan, and Yunnan are the Chinese provinces where red pandas can be found. As with giant pandas, red pandas can be found in high altitude forests where bamboos are plentiful.
Pandas In Japanese History
Japan has never been home to pandas. Nevertheless, no less love exists for pandas in Japan. Psychologists report that pandas are far more popular in Japan than anywhere else on Earth.
In 1860s China, a French missionary was the first person to record finding a panda. In the 1930s, pandas were brought overseas to live in zoos in the United States and England, but they did not appear in Japanese zoos until 1972.
There was a panda at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo which was the first to come to Japan. The people were enchanted! A new baby panda was introduced to the Ueno Zoo in 2017 and today the demand for pandas is even stronger.
With plans to let more pandas move to Japan before returning in the future, pandas symbolize both Japan and China’s friendship together.
It’s impossible not to love these friendly animals because of their friendly nature, and when they’re young, they’re also extremely entertaining to watch.
Updates On Pandas In Japan In 2022
The best news in 2022 so far for Japan is the fact they have introduced two new baby pandas to their zoo in Tokyo. The first public appearance of twin panda cubs took place in the zoo, where devoted fans gathered.
It has become such a hot topic that people are only permitted to observe these pandas for a limited amount of time due to overwhelming demand to see them!
As beaming fans held up their smartphones to film the cuddly pair as they played together, twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, born at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo in June, took their first steps.
There is nothing like pandas to bring a country together when they stay for a while.
Panda diplomacy, or lending of China’s unofficial national mascot, dates back decades. All pandas, including those born abroad, must eventually be returned to China.
Xiang Xiang, the twins’ elder sister born at the Ueno Zoo in 2017, is set to be returned to China in June. The majority of pandas living in China are found in zoos and reserves, and there are about 1,800 living in the wild.
Summary
We hope that you have learned everything there is to know about pandas living in Japan after reading this guide.
It should be noted that even though they are not native to Japan, we recommend visiting the country and visiting the zoo there in order to see for yourself just how much they love the panda.
In light of the good news about pandas coming to the country already, you can be sure that eventually the country will have them scattered around everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Japan’s National Animal?
Japan does not have a national animal, but it does have a national bird, the green pheasant (see also ‘Are There Squirrels In Japan?‘). Phasianus versicolor is the scientific name of the green pheasant.
The pheasant is a close relative of the wild chicken, quail, and partridge. Pheasants are classified into 35 species as of now. Japanese people are native to the green pheasant, which is quite abundant in the country.
Why Does Japan Love Pandas So Much?
In 2017, a new baby panda named Xiang Xiang was shown publicly for the first time in 29 years! Japan’s panda boom reached new heights of excitement that it had never experienced before.
The panda joy grew more rapidly in Japan than anywhere else in the world despite its late arrival. This could have been because they were one of the last countries to experience one. We still love them though!
So, if you’re planning a trip to Japan anytime soon, do exactly that - plan! Read up on all of the amazing things to do here to make the most of your time. I can bet that you’ll still return home feeling like you could’ve explored much more.
