Pandas are unusual among larger mammals for the extreme specialization of their diet, which depends almost entirely on bamboo (99%). Bamboo is a relatively abundant food source but has poor nutritional value; adults must spend around 14 hours a day feeding, and need to consume around 45 kilos over 24 hours. They therefore alternate periods of feeding and resting throughout the day and night. Bamboo is evergreen and in winter pandas concentrate on leaves and stems, descending to lower altitudes in search of new shoots in spring. Despite their specialization on bamboo, pandas will readily scavenge on meat if they come across it.

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