Their short intestine is still not sufficiently developed to remove all of the available nutrients from the fibrous bamboo on which they feed. The head of the giant panda is very large and has developed large molars which are specifically designed to crush fibrous plant material. It has powerful muscles which extend from the top of its head to the jaws giving it the capacity to crush tough stalks. Even the throat of the giant panda has undergone significant evolution as the esophagus has a tough, horny lining to protect the bear from injury due to bamboo splinters. The stomach is similarly protected with its thick muscular wall linings.
Giant pandas have forepaws which are extremely flexible.
This highly functional adaptation allows the panda to manipulate their primary food source, bamboo stems and leaves, with dexterity and precision. The habitat, suitable for the bamboo on which it survives, is a cold, damp coniferous forest. The mountains are shrouded in heavy clouds with torrential rains or dense mist throughout the year. It is estimated that there are somewhere around 700 and 1,000 giant pandas still alive in the wild. Because of their reliance on bamboo as their primary food, they will remain in significant danger unless their present habitat is expanded.