Giant pandas do not have eyeliner. The dark shapes around their eyes are natural fur markings. They are part of the adult panda's iconic black-and-white coat pattern, along with dark ears, legs, shoulders, and muzzle.
Why are the eye patches so noticeable?
The patches sit on a pale face and have a rounded, high-contrast shape, so people often compare them to mascara or eyeliner. They also vary subtly from panda to panda: zoo keepers can use face shape and eye-patch details as one clue when telling individual animals apart.
Do cubs have the same markings?
Not immediately. Giant panda cubs are born very small and look markedly different from adults. Their black markings, including the eye patches, become more visible as they grow in the first weeks after birth.
What do the markings do?
Scientists still debate exactly why giant pandas have their unusual coloring. Proposed explanations include camouflage and social signaling. It is safer to treat any one explanation as a hypothesis rather than a settled fact.
Are pandas ever born without eye patches?
Very young cubs can appear to be without them because the dark fur is not yet distinct. Read the newborn eye-patch guide for the direct answer.
Keep learning about pandas
For more starting points, visit the iHeartPandas homepage or watch giant panda live cams and videos.