Bear necessities: Low metabolism lets pandas survive on bamboo

There are few animals on the planet as iconic as the giant panda. And if that is the case, how can the massive-but gentle-beast sustain its health without any whey?

Professor John Speakman, from the University of Aberdeen and Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: “Pandas save a lot of energy by being frugal with the energy they spend on physical activity”.

Aside from not moving around as much as mammals of their stature, other features contribute to the giant panda’s low metabolic rates, including thyroid hormone levels comparable to a hibernating black bear. Pandas possess a digestive tract that is highly-adaptive to a meat based diet as evidenced by their carnivorous ancestors. This may also explain why they are so inactive and have comparatively small organs for their body size.

“The on a regular basis potential fees ideals for big pandas are elegantly a lesser amount than those particular for koalas, just for example, and even more resembling all those of three-toed sloths”, the investigation, found in the document Science, said. Bamboo contains very little nutritional value so the bears must eat 10 – 40 kg every day to meet their energy needs.

The findings of the study published in the journal Science show that the average daily energy expenditure of the wild and captive pandas is 5.2 megajoules, which is only about 38 percent of the expected rate.

The researchers also pointed out that the size of the panda’s brain, liver and kidney is relatively small compared to other bears. Scientists believe this could be the reason why pandas have such a slow metabolism and can survive eating a diet that consists mainly of bamboo. Low levels of thyroid hormones can lead to sluggishness.

The biologists also investigated the level of thyroid hormones in the pandas and found there was a gene variation that was similar to that of humans who have low-functioning thyroid glands.

Due to the slow metabolism exhibited by pandas, their coat is an especially important thermoregulatory mechanism to keep them warm because it enables them to retain body heat more efficiently.

“It has been a real pleasure to be involved in this global collaboration which has revealed some awesome insights into how the panda manages to survive on its bamboo diet”.

There are only about 1,800 giant pandas left in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund, citing Chinese government figures.