A Few Facts about Panda Food It is common knowledge that the
panda bear relies on a steady diet of bamboo, but it is likely
that many are not aware that panda food has evolved from meat to
bamboo over the years. The few remaining pandas live in
Southwest China in the cold and damp mountainous regions of the
area. Forests of evergreens and leafy trees tower here, with
patches of bamboo growing below. There are about 25 varieties of
bamboo that are food sources for the bear, but within their
normal ranges, only four or five of these are used as panda
food. Each type of bamboo grows in individual patches. As bamboo
matures, flowers and then seeds are produced before the plant
dies away. When this happens, pandas must move to another area
to find food. An unusual fact about the panda is that its
digestive system is actually designed for a carnivore.
Scientists believe that over the 2 or 3 million years that the
panda is known to have existed, they have adapted their diets.
This is most likely due to the fact that