Giant pandas can actually survive on a diet consisting of only their favorite food, bamboo that also lacks nutrients. So how do these big, cuddly animals live on just bamboo?
Scientists have recently discovered that these giant creatures have the ability to do this due to evolution where they have already adapted to use as little amount of energy as possible. In other words, pandas are able to subsist on bamboo because they lead a very much laid back lifestyle.
Pandas were observed by researchers, those who are in captivity and living in the wild. Scientists recorded the daily energy expenditure of eight pandas where three of them dwell in the wild. This new study reveals that giant pandas apparently do not move too much that allow them the spend their days leisurely eating away.
This is not only observed in pandas who live in captivity but also those who are born and living in the wild where they only spend half of the day being active where those who are in captivity move only one third of the time.
Scientists have determined that this is the lowest level of physical activity ever recorded in any large animal species.
There are other significant factors as well such as thyroid hormone levels that are similarly found in a black bear during hibernation period including small brains, kidneys and livers that also enable the pandas to survive on just bamboo.
According to John Speakman from the University of Aberdeen and Chinese Academy of Sciences, their low activity is not only the culprit of their low metabolism since the active panda's metabolic rate is still lower than a human in a stationary state. Rather, their low metabolism is more attributed to really low levels of thyroid hormones which is a form of genetic mutation that is unique to pandas.
In other species, having a low metabolic rate means problems in retaining body heat where thick coating like fur allows the pandas to help maintain high body temperature. However, pandas are still biologically built to eat meat but they evolved and adapted to eating a strict diet of bamboo.
Their digestive systems are still capable of consuming meat and other animal products which means the pandas need to devour as much as 50 pounds of bamboo everyday to meet their nutritional needs. They do not move often and when they do, their movement is really slow, allowing them to save energy.
This new study is published in the journal Science.