Yes—newborn giant pandas can look as though they have no eye patches at all. They are born tiny, pinkish, nearly hairless, and blind. Their familiar black-and-white markings, including the patches around the eyes, become clearer over the first weeks of life.
When do the black eye patches appear?
Smithsonian National Zoo keepers reported that black eye patches were beginning to show on a cub around its first week, with the markings becoming far more distinct by roughly two weeks. The ears, legs, and the black saddle across the back develop as the cub grows too.
Why do newborn cubs look so different?
An adult giant panda has dense black fur on its ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs, and shoulders. A newborn is at a completely different developmental stage, so it does not arrive looking like a miniature adult panda.
Is a panda without eye patches a different species?
Usually, no. Photos that show a very young giant panda with faint or missing-looking patches are generally showing normal early development. If you mean a stylized drawing, toy, or edited photo, that is different from a real animal and its markings.
What about panda eyeliner?
The black patches are real fur markings, not eyeliner. For the related explanation, see why giant pandas look like they have eyeliner.
Keep learning about pandas
For more starting points, visit the iHeartPandas homepage or watch giant panda live cams and videos.