Giant Panda: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Bears · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. Relative to its body size, the giant panda has the strongest bite of any bear.
2. A panda's "thumb" is really a modified sesamoid bone, not a true digit, yet it lets the panda grasp bamboo.
3. A panda swallows 54.8 to 66.1 mg of cyanide a day in its bamboo. About 80 % is converted to far less harmful thiocyanate.
4. A giant panda eats 9 to 14 kg of bamboo shoots a day. Its short, straight digestive tract passes the food through quickly.
5. A newborn giant panda is pink, cannot see and has no teeth. It weighs just 90 to 130 g.

The quiz

1. Relative to body size, what is special about a giant panda's bite?

• It is the weakest of any bear
• It is the strongest of any bear (correct)
• It is the quietest
• It is the slowest

It is the strongest bite relative to body size of any bear.

2. What is the panda's "thumb" really?

• A modified sesamoid bone (correct)
• A tiny claw
• A fold of skin
• A spare toe

It is a modified sesamoid bone rather than a true digit.

3. About what share of the cyanide is converted to thiocyanate?

• About 8 %
• About 20 %
• About 50 %
• About 80 % (correct)

About 80 % is converted and eliminated in urine.

4. How much bamboo does a giant panda eat in a day?

• 0.9 to 1.4 kg
• 3 to 5 kg
• 9 to 14 kg (correct)
• 90 to 140 kg

The average panda eats 9 to 14 kg of bamboo shoots per day.

5. How is a newborn giant panda described?

• Black and white, with open eyes
• Grey and covered in thick fur
• Pink, blind and toothless (correct)
• Brown and able to walk

The cub is pink, blind, and toothless at birth.

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