Giant panda years ago) from the main ursine stock; since it is the most basal member of the group, it is equidistant from all other extant ursids. The giant panda has been referred to as a living fossil. Despite the shared name, habitat type, and diet, as well as a unique enlarged bone called the "pseudo thumb" (which helps them grip the bamboo shoots they eat) the giant panda and red panda are only distantly related. The word "panda" was borrowed into English from French, but no conclusive explanation of the origin of the French word "panda" has been found. The closest
Yang Yang (Atlanta giant panda) are solitary and males do not play any part in cub-rearing, Yang Yang is kept separate from Lun Lun and their offspring. Yang Yang (Atlanta giant panda) Yang Yang (, meaning: "little sea") (b. 9 September 1997) is a male giant panda currently in captivity at Zoo Atlanta. He is the mate to Lun Lun and the father to Mei Lan, Xi Lan, Po, twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan and two new female twins, Ya Lun and Xi Lun. Yang Yang was born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and has been on loan to Zoo