The Giant pandas' diet is very specific, consisting entirely of bamboo. Sometimes, they may catch rodents, such as bamboo rats, to eat.

As pandas can only absorb about 10-18% of nutrients available in the bamboo they eat, it is necessary for them to eat more than 10 kg of bamboo a day to meet their daily requirement.

The reason is because Giant Pandas have a carnivorous digestive system, a system that is relatively short with insufficient bacteria to digest the cellulose of plant matters. As a result, absorption of nutrients is poor under a herbivorous diet.

Giant Pandas have very strong cheek muscles, jawbones and teeth. They are highly efficient for chewing and breaking down the bamboo in to smaller pieces suitable for swallowing.

Giant Pandas have a "sixth digit" called the pseudo-thumb. It is a modified wrist bone which effectively enables the pandas to manipulate and grasp bamboo for feeding.

Wild pandas only eat 40 species of bamboo, and only 2-6 are their favourites. They include Bashania fangiana, Fargesia Qinlingensis and Fargensia nitida..

The leaves of the bamboo are most nutritious and balanced in nutrients. However, the nutritional value of different parts of the bamboo changes according to seasons.

Seasonal changes affect the panda's preference of which part of the bamboo to eat. For example before winder arrives, panda prefers to eat the roots of the bamboo because they contain more water and protein, availability of which is scarce during the harsh winter months.