Why do giant pandas eat bamboo?
Quick Answer
Pandas evolved to rely on bamboo because it is abundant year-round in their mountain forests, even though their gut is built like a carnivore's.
The Full Story
Giant pandas belong to the order Carnivora and have a short, simple digestive tract without the specialised stomach of plant-eating animals. Even so, bamboo makes up about 99% of their diet. Bamboo grows densely in the cool mountain forests of central China and is available all year, so there is little competition for it. Because pandas digest only a small fraction of what they eat, they spend 10 to 16 hours a day feeding and can eat roughly 12 to 38 kg of bamboo daily. An enlarged wrist bone works like a 'pseudo-thumb', helping them grip stems.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"A carnivore that eats salad all day — how the giant panda survives on bamboo."