Pandas primarily obtain most of the water needed for their bodies through their diet. Their primary source of hydration comes from bamboo, which is composed of about 50% water. Pandas consume large quantities of bamboo, often eating up to 14 kilograms per day. They have specialized adaptations in their digestive system to extract moisture from bamboo efficiently.
Pandas possess a strong jaw and sharp teeth that enable them to crush and chew bamboo effectively. After ingestion, the bamboo goes through a fermentation process in their specialized gut, which allows them to extract water and nutrients from the fibrous plant material. This adaptation helps pandas maximize their water intake from the bamboo they consume.
Additionally, pandas have been observed drinking water from streams, rivers, and puddles when available, especially during periods of high heat or drought. However, their reliance on bamboo as a water source remains the primary means by which they fulfill their hydration needs.