Re: What do Pandas eat?

Dear curious boy --

Pandas eat primarily bamboo, but eat various grasses, berries, flowers and tree bark as well. They eat carrion ('meat' that's been killed by something else) if they come across it, and may also eat fish, and small rodents. They do not actively hunt. Panda's have poor eyesight, thus making it difficult to see their prey - plus they're not excessively quick. This type of a diet (meat and plants) makes the panda omnivorous, as opposed to purely herbivorous - vegetarian. Carnivorous animals eat only meat (lions and tigers and ... sperm whales.. oh my..).

You can learn more about the Giant Panda at the following sites:

The Giant Panda and Feeding:
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/Zoo/panda_diet.html
at the San Diego Zoo.

The Giant Panda:
http://www.wimmera.net.au/ACF/rcsacf/j&j.html

-L. Bry, MadSci Admin