* Bamboo: This is the cornerstone of their diet, making up around 95% of their food intake. They prefer young shoots and leaves, but will also eat the stalks.
* Fruits: Red pandas enjoy a variety of fruits like berries, apples, and peaches.
* Other plant matter: They also consume roots, flowers, lichens, and occasionally insects.
Key points about their diet:
* Bamboo is crucial: Red pandas have evolved specialized digestive systems that allow them to extract nutrients from bamboo, which is high in cellulose and low in nutritional value.
* Omnivorous tendencies: While primarily herbivores, they can be opportunistic omnivores and will occasionally eat small insects and bird eggs.
* Dietary differences: The specific diet of red pandas varies depending on their location and the availability of food sources.
Interesting fact: Red pandas have a unique way of consuming bamboo. They hold the stalks in their front paws and use their sharp teeth to strip off the outer layers.