The main diet of the giant panda consists primarily of bamboo. Despite being classified as carnivores, giant pandas have adapted to a herbivorous diet, with bamboo making up about 99% of their food intake. They consume various parts of the bamboo plant, including leaves, stems, and shoots, depending on the season. Due to the low nutritional value of bamboo, pandas need to eat large quantities—up to 28 pounds a day—to meet their energy needs. While they can occasionally consume small amounts of other foods, such as fruits or small animals, bamboo remains their staple food and is crucial to their survival.