Pandas have a very unique diet. Giant pandas are herbivores, and their diet is about 99% bamboo. They eat the stems, leaves, and shoots of bamboo. Pandas have a special adaptation in their digestive system and teeth to process bamboo. An adult giant panda eats 12-38 kilograms of bamboo each day. They spend 10-16 hours a day eating because bamboo is low in nutrients, and they need to eat a lot of it to meet their energy needs. Pandas mostly eat bamboo, but they can also eat other things, like fruits, vegetables, and insects. Their digestive system is more similar to that of carnivores, so they can only extract a small portion of the nutrients from bamboo. They have a special pseudo-thumb to help them grip bamboo stalks. Pandas prefer certain species of bamboo and specific parts of it, depending on the season. For example, they eat tender bamboo shoots in the spring and tougher leaves and stems in other seasons. Pandas eat Fargesia Robusta and Fargesia Denudata, which are types of bamboo found in the Sichuan Province.
In summary, pandas are primarily bamboo eaters, but their diet can include other foods to supplement their nutritional needs. Their unique diet and adaptations make them one of the most fascinating animals in the world!