Researchers have discovered fossils of gigantic pandas in Shuanghe Cave in Suiyang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. The discovery, totaling 52 fossils, makes the cave the site with the world's largest known collection of giant panda remains. The finding was announced Friday during the 24th International Cave Science Expedition.
Experts said the discovery provides valuable insight into the ancient environment and evolutionary history of giant pandas. Six of the fossils were uncovered during the most recent scientific expedition. The cave, already known for its wide variety of animal fossils, has proven especially rich in panda remains.
"Many mammalian fossils have been discovered in Shuanghe Cave, among which the giant panda fossils are the most prominent," said Wang Deyuan, an associate research fellow at the Guizhou Academy of Sciences' Institute of Mountain Resources.
The fossils show that giant pandas lived in Guizhou from around 100,000 years ago to just a few hundred years ago, forming a nearly continuous record of their existence. Researchers said this timeline helps them trace how pandas adapted to climate and environmental changes through different eras.
Analysis of teeth found at the site indicated that most of the individuals were subadult or young adults, suggesting a stable and reproducing population. This information helps scientists better understand the species' life patterns and natural history.
Numerous limb bones and skulls unearthed in the cave allowed scientists to study how the panda's body changed over time. Their analysis showed that the species reached its maximum body weight during the Middle Pleistocene period before gradually shrinking to its current size.
Stretching 439.7 kilometers (273.3 miles), Shuanghe Cave is the longest cave in Asia and the third-longest in the world. The cave system extends across multiple layers of limestone and contains rivers, waterfalls, underground streams, and ancient chambers formed over millions of years. Its complex structure has made it a prime site for studies in geology, hydrology, and paleontology.
Since the late 1980s, Shuanghe Cave has hosted 24 international joint scientific expeditions, attracting researchers from across the world. Each expedition has uncovered new geological and biological records, making the site an important archive of ancient ecosystems in East Asia.
Researchers said the discovery of the giant panda fossils further strengthens Shuanghe Cave's reputation as one of the world's most significant natural laboratories for understanding prehistoric life and evolution.