What do pandas eat?

The giant panda is one of the most loved animals in the world. With its black-and-white fur and dark patches around its eyes, it looks like a plush toy. It lives in the mountains of China and almost its whole day revolves around food. What does a panda eat?

A bear that eats bamboo

Although it belongs to the bear family, which usually eats meat, the panda feeds almost only on bamboo: leaves, stems and shoots. Its ancestors ate everything, but over time they specialized in this plant.

Eating a huge amount

Bamboo gives little energy, so a panda has to eat an enormous amount, between ten and thirty kilos a day. That is why it spends many hours, up to twelve, chewing nonstop.

A very special thumb

Pandas have a long bone in the wrist that works almost like a sixth finger and lets them grip stems like tweezers.

More than just bamboo

Now and then they eat eggs, small animals, fruit or honey, but bamboo is the base of their diet.

A quiet life

Pandas live alone and move slowly. Cubs are born tiny, about the size of a stick of butter, pink and almost hairless, and grow up with their mother's care.

An animal in danger

For years, logging reduced their habitat and they almost disappeared. Thanks to nature reserves and protection, their situation has improved today, although they still need care.

A fun fact

Every panda has a slightly different pattern of markings on its face. They can also climb trees and swim: despite their lazy reputation, they are very agile when they want to be.

Activity: eat like a panda

Draw a panda with its bamboo and think about how many hours of the day you spend eating. Then compare it with the panda: it spends almost half of the day!