How bear like are pandas

A.� Not very, compared to their more typical cousins like grizzly bears. They have a very different diet and make a different noise.

�

Q.� How is their diet different

A.� They're herbivores, unlike their carnivorous cousins, although they're still classified as belonging to the order Carnivora along with the other bears.

�

Q.� And they eat bamboo

A.� Yes, and lots of it. They need to eat around 90 pounds a day because it is so low in nutrients and even then much of the bamboo passes undigested through its intestines because its digestive system cannot cope with it. Eating so much bamboo is rather time consuming: a panda can spend up to 16 hours a day munching on the stuff.

�

Q.� Bamboo is quite tough; their sharp canines must come in handy

A.� Well actually it's their powerful cheek teeth that do most of the work, along with strong jawbones and cheek muscles. Its cheek teeth are so powerful that they can slice and crush stems as thick as a man's leg.

�

The panda also eats some bulbs and tubers of other plants, grasses and small insects.

�

Q.� What kind of noise does a panda make

A.� Well unlike their more ferocious relatives, pandas actually bleat, rather than roar. They also honk, huff, bark, or growl, and young cubs croak and squeal.

�

Q.� So, are they really bears

A.� Yes, although for years (they were only 'discovered' by the West one hundred years ago) scientists weren't sure whether they were really racoons.

�

Eventually genetic studies confirmed the panda's relationship with bears.

�

The panda's similarity to other bears is evident in their general appearance, posture, locomotion, and skull characteristics.

�

Q.� Why are Pandas black and white

A.� Scientists aren't exactly sure. One theory is that pandas developed the contrasting black and white colours over time so they would stand out in the forest and be able to find each other to mate. Panda coyness is legendary so this theory may not be as implausible as it sounds.

�

Q.� How many pandas are left

A.� In the wild there are only around 1,000 of these endangered animals left. There are around 60 in zoos.

�

Interested in finding out more about how animals are related to each other Ask The AnswerBank your question here.

�

by Lisa Cardy