HOW PANDAS GOT SUCH A BAD REPUTATION

HOW PANDAS GOT SUCH A BAD REPUTATION

Pandas are undeniably cute and beloved worldwide. Just look at their adorable faces! However, in the past 20 years, pandas have faced criticism. Some say bamboo is a bad food for them and that they struggle with breeding. There are even those who argue that saving pandas from extinction is not worth it. But fear not, we at science shows are here to defend their honor and debunk these claims. Let's show the haters that pandas are worth saving!

Let's talk about pandas and their breeding habits. In the past, captive breeding programs for pandas didn't have much success. Some researchers were concerned that pandas might not be good at reproducing. If a species can't reproduce, it's in trouble. However, we have learned a lot more about panda breeding since then, both in the wild and in captivity.

Field studies on two different panda populations have shown that over 60% of wild giant pandas successfully reproduce. In one study, an adult female panda gave birth to 5 cubs, all of whom survived to adulthood. Usually, pandas give birth every two years, which is similar to other bear species. Brown bears, for example, wait three years between pregnancies. Despite some challenges, captive breeding programs have improved and become more successful at helping giant pandas reproduce.

In the past, people didn't know how pandas like to breed or rear their cubs. But now we've learned a lot and pandas breed regularly in captivity. In 2006, data showed that over 90% of captive-bred panda cubs survive to adulthood. Some researchers have had to use a bit of trickery to increase success rates.

Pandas in captivity sometimes have twin cubs, but moms usually abandon one quickly. Keepers have found a way to trick moms into caring for both cubs by swapping them out. This trick has helped increase panda populations in captivity. So, pandas are smart - they know what they're doing, even if they don't want humans to know their secrets.

Let's talk about pandas and bamboo. Some say bamboo isn't nutritious, so why do pandas love it? Well, there's plenty of bamboo in forests, and not many other animals eat it. Plus, bamboo is hard to digest for other herbivores, so pandas don't have to fight for it. So, maybe being a bamboo specialist isn't such a bad idea for pandas after all!

Pandas are like the person at the party who enjoys black jelly beans. They digest their cellulose-heavy diet differently than other herbivores, not fermenting it like ruminants do. Instead, they pass it through quickly to get the important parts. This allows them to eat more bamboo faster. Living in bamboo forests, they have an abundance of their favorite food.

Pandas have a special toolkit for eating bamboo, including strong jaws and flat teeth. They have lost their taste for meaty flavors because they only eat bamboo. Their gut bacteria is adapted to a bamboo-heavy diet. They even have a pseudo-thumb to help grab bamboo stalks.

It might seem strange for a bear to go vegan, but here's why it's not so unusual. While some bears are considered carnivores, they actually don't eat a lot of meat compared to other carnivores. The reason for this has to do with macro nutrients like fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Foods often contain a mix of these macro nutrients, so it's not as simple as categorizing them by just one. For example, fatty meat is not just a protein; it also contains fat which affects how the body processes it. Even carnivorous bears like polar bears prefer high-fat seals or termites over protein-rich muscle tissue. Some bears, like Andean spectacle bears or pandas, are almost herbivores. And black bears are opportunistic eaters, consuming a variety of foods including garbage.

It's interesting to note that bears are adapted to low protein diets and tend to focus on fats or carbs. Surprisingly, pandas actually consume more protein than some carnivorous animals, all from bamboo. Approximately 50% of their energy comes from protein, putting them on par with animals like wolves.

It turns out that bamboo might not be such a bad food choice for pandas after all. Some argue that pandas may not be able to survive the next evolutionary challenge without our assistance. However, pandas have actually managed to overcome several potential extinction events in their history. Their ancestors have existed for between six and eight million years, enduring multiple glacial periods. This is in contrast to some other bear species, like the Eurasian cave bears. The biggest threat to giant pandas lies in their dependence on bamboo. Every few decades, bamboo plants flower and then die, causing a widespread shortage of their beloved food source. This creates a challenging situation for pandas who rely on bamboo as their primary diet.

When bamboo flowers on a large scale, it can cause problems for pandas. However, pandas are actually quite resilient. They can either switch to a different type of bamboo or migrate to find more food. So, despite the challenges, pandas are able to adapt and survive. Next time you hear a panda story, remember how tough and resourceful these animals really are. Their ability to overcome obstacles is truly impressive. Enjoy learning more about these amazing creatures and appreciate their resilience in the face of adversity.