Giant pandas are bears and are members of the Order Carnivora. They are unique because, although they evolved among the the carnivorous bear species of the world, their diet is vegetarian. Despite the availability of other plants, they feed almost exclusively on bamboo. Because of this, they have many unique adaptations for their low-energy lifestyle. Giant pandas are solitary, with males and females coming together only briefly to mate. Habitat loss is the primary threat to this species. Its popularity around the world has helped the giant panda become the focus of successful conservation programs. 

 Zoo Atlanta is home to four giant pandas: Twins, Ya Lun & Xi Lun (female); Lun Lun (female); and Yang Yang (male). 

 While other herbivorous animals, such as antelope, zebras, or rabbits, have very long digestive tracts, the giant panda retains an essentially bear-like digestive tract. Thus, the digestive efficiency of the bamboo they consume is quite low. Examination of the feces demonstrates that their food has been only partially digested.

The low nutrient value of their food and their low digestive efficiency results in an animal that is constrained to a low-metabolism. This lifestyle explains why giant pandas sleep so often and why they eat such enormous amounts of bamboo.

 August 25, 1997 | Female

Lun Lun is an avid climber and enjoys sleeping on climbing structures. Born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China, she , from her mother at the months of age. She arrived at Zoo Atlanta with Yang Yang in 1999 and has gone on to become the mother of seven offspring. Lun Lun is considered to be a strikingly beautiful panda because her cheeks are very round and fluffy. 

 September 9, 1997 | Male

Yang Yang is playful and easygoing. He remained with his mother for 13 months as part of a behavioral study conducted by Zoo Atlanta in collaboration with staff at his birthplace, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. He arrived at Zoo Atlanta with Lun Lun in 1999 and is the father of all seven of the Giant Panda cubs born at Zoo Atlanta. 

 Zoo Atlanta is the only Zoo in the United States where you can see twin pandas, home of Ya Lun & Xi Lun, born in September 2016. 

 Yang Yang predicts the University of Michigan to be the winner of the 2018 Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl against the Florida Gators. 

 Ya Lun & Xi Lun celebrate their second birthday with ice cakes and leaf eater biscuits. Read more + 

 An adult panda can spend up to 14 hours a day eating!

That's around 12-38 kilos of bamboo a day.