Photo: Dakiny – Attribution License – http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Although Red Pandas are carnivores, their diet consists mostly of bamboo and other plants.
In a study from 2012 in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve in eastern Nepal researchers have analyzed the dietary habits of the Red Pandas in the months of June and July. The result: the diet is dominated by the Arundinaria spp. bamboo.
Red Pandas and their favorite bamboo
Last year a research team from Nepal, Australia and New Zealand has studied the dietary habits of Red Pandas in the winter months from November to February. They collect 54 stool samples and samples of relevant plant species for an analysis.
Proteins versus carbohydrates
The proportion of Arundinaria spp. on the diet of the Red Pandas remains fairly constant, with 82.1% (winter) compared to 81.7% (early summer).
It appears that there is a slight shift to Berberis spp. in early summer. This bamboo species has a higher protein content. Especially in summer Red Pandas need a higher protein content for muscle formation, but also for reproduction. In winter, however, the need for carbohydrates is higher, and therefore more of the carbohydrate-rich Arundinaria spp. is consumed.
The lower protein percentage of the favorite bamboo Arundinaria spp. would also explain why Red Pandas sometimes eat small animals. According to the authors, these are a “complement” to the bamboo to get the optimal nutrient ratio.
Outstanding issues
The results of the short study provide an initial orientation, but still need more detailed research. For example a distinction between the sexes wasn’t possible.
Red Pandas in the conflict zone
There is also a difficult relationship between humans and Red Pandas, which is particularly evident in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. The Arundinaria spp. is not only the favorite bamboo for Red Pandas, but also a major source of income for the local population. This could lead to a conflict.
Read more
The study “Diet and nutrient balance of red panda in Nepal” by Saroj Panthi, Sean C. P. Coogan, Achyut Aryal and David Raubenheimer is published by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015