Hong Kong
CNN —

While giant pandas are well-known for their love of bamboo, new research from Chinese scientists reveals an intriguing twist: these lovable creatures have digestive systems akin to those of carnivores.

Researchers suggest that a bamboo-heavy diet not only affects the pandas’ behaviors but also plays a vital role in fine-tuning their sense of aroma and flavor.

Pandas, native to southwest China, can spend up to 16 hours daily munching on bamboo, effectively incorporating a genetic material known as microRNA (miRNA) into their systems, as outlined in a recent study published in Frontiers.

This molecule influences how genetic data is communicated within pandas’ bodies and plays a significant role in their behavior, according to research led by experts at China West Normal University in Sichuan.

Dr. Li Feng, the senior author from the university, stated that miRNA is crucial in regulating the gene expression of giant pandas.

Li and his team discovered that this molecule can shape essential physiological functions within pandas, including growth, behavior, biological cycles, and immune system responses.

“MiRNA found in bamboo plays a role in regulating the smell, taste, and dopamine pathways of giant pandas, all of which influence their feeding patterns,” Dr. Li explained.

The researchers believe that as a panda matures, it will learn to select the freshest and most nutritious bamboo, which is essential for thriving on a plant-based diet.

The study analyzed blood samples from six adult pandas and one juvenile and identified 57 types of miRNAs likely sourced from bamboo.

The researchers hope these findings will lead to a greater understanding of how plant-derived miRNAs affect animals, potentially aiding in disease prevention and treatment.

Although bamboo constitutes nearly their entire diet, world conservation efforts indicate that giant pandas also consume about 1% of other plant matter and even small rodents, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The WWF estimates that around 1,800 wild pandas inhabit the mountainous regions of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces in China.

Habitat destruction and fragmentation are the primary threats to wild pandas, coupled with their low reproductive drive, making conservation efforts particularly challenging. When a mother finally gives birth, her newborn is incredibly delicate.

In response to these challenges, China has significantly increased its efforts to protect these bears, growing the number of panda reserves from 12 to 67 over recent decades.