San Diego, California - San Diego Zoo - Part II

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Giant Panda

While Catherine and I were in San Diego, we visited the Giant Panda Research Station in the San Diego Zoo

The Giant Panda is an endangered animal. According to the latest report, China has 239 giant pandas in captivity by Nov 2007, The giant panda is a mammal classified in the bear family. Despite its classification as a carnivore (meat eater), the panda has a diet that is primarily herbivorous, which consists almost exclusively of bamboo. However, pandas still have the digestive system of a carnivore and do not have the ability to digest cellulose efficiently, and thus derive little energy and little protein from consumption of bamboo. The average Giant Panda eats as much as 20 to 30 pounds of bamboo shoots a day. Because pandas consume a diet low in nutrition, it is important that they keep their digestive tract full.Giant Panda Research Station.

The pictures ENLARGE if you click on them.

The pictures ENLARGE if you click on them.

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