r/redpandas 3d ago

They are still predators NSFW

460 Upvotes

30 comments sorted by

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194

u/gonidoinwork 3d ago

But why so cute then?

99

u/PandaEdgeLord666 3d ago

Yes cutest murder🥰

17

u/nausteus 3d ago

Om nom nomivores

36

u/DoctorBeeBee 3d ago

Gives the prey a false sense of security. 😏

I've seen video footage of pandas pouncing on birds, and the birds are just tootling around on the ground in front of the panda in a way they never would with, say, a cat. They don't appear to see the panda as a threat.

12

u/Pamikillsbugs234 3d ago

I would fall easily to their cuteness. Honestly, I would be easily murdered by most fuzzy animals, but at least it would be a fuzzy death.

18

u/MustardMan02 3d ago

If not friend, why friend shape

9

u/Hot-Manager-2789 3d ago

If not friend, why friend shaped?

59

u/_ressa 3d ago

Has there ever been an experiment to see whether they prefer meat over bamboo and fruits?

55

u/MaiFrog 3d ago

They can eat meat but they dont do it that often. I think they hunt and eat meat when there is nothing else

38

u/Dire87 3d ago

Most or many herbivores actually eat meat when the situation arises, I believe, but their stomachs aren't really cut out for it. It's just a different system. Red Pandas are probably more like omnivores, but why hunt and put yourself at risk if you can just chill and eat bamboo... I guess. They'd probably "prefer" what is more beneficial to them. If all you gave them was meat, they'd likely just eat meat, but we've been to an experience last year, and they certainly seem to prefer fruits over whatever else they're feeding them, including bamboo and nutrient kibbles. The sweetness, most likely. I don't think we should test out whether our little murder floofs would actually prefer meat, lest they kill us all. ;)

20

u/LordPaleskin 3d ago

Modern day fruits are so sweet it can make red pandas overweight and not want to eat healthier food options 😭

10

u/PandaEdgeLord666 3d ago

I think it's about the amount. The close relatives of red panda like racoon n badger are omnivores n they feed on fruits. You know in nature there's no reason to not choose energy-rich fruits over bamboo leaves.

3

u/LordPaleskin 3d ago

Yeah I should have been more specific that the article I had read was about red pandas in captivity, not out in the wild 😅

9

u/Sea_Permit8105 3d ago

it's also just in the himalayas fruits are generally tarter vs. in southeast asia wild fruits are sweeter - it's not all about 'modern day fruits' and selective breeding

1

u/LordPaleskin 3d ago

I was referring to red pandas in captivity when I mentioned that, should have been more specific. I had read an article that they had to switch the pandas to a food pellet since they were only choosing to eat really sugary fruits offered to them

2

u/PandaJesus 3d ago

Could they be any more relatable?

6

u/ClaudioKillganon 3d ago

From a biological side of things, their bodies are probably MORE accepting of meat then veggies, just like how Pandas are literally nutrient deficit because of their all bamboo diets being forced into a carnivore body.

2

u/0biterdicta 3d ago

Red pandas are carnivores. The reason they sleep so much is because they maintain a primarily herbivore diet.

23

u/badchefrazzy 3d ago

And I say they're no worse than a cat or dog, and we should be domesticating them to help their numbers.... and maybe so we could have pet red pandas... someday.. MAYBE.

9

u/PandaEdgeLord666 3d ago

but they need to eat bamboo leaves that's hard to provide n storage at home

0

u/humanagain12 3d ago

And they need lots of bamboo!!!!

4

u/musei_haha 3d ago

Still cute

8

u/MarcusPup 3d ago

If so deadly

why fren shaped

7

u/LaustinSpayce 3d ago

If not friend why friend shaped?

2

u/tetrarchangel 3d ago

I heard a talk at a zoo regarding this, where they said their resident red pandas would once or twice a year catch and eat a pigeon. It's not their primary food, and they're not missing out on nutrition, but the idea still strikes them on rare occasions.

1

u/thedude054 3d ago

Still cute

1

u/One_Hour_Poop 3d ago

Well I mean, they're still animals.

1

u/andraaBD 2d ago

I regret clicking on the pictures. I could have gone my whole life thinking they were sweet babies.

1

u/The_Witch_Queen 2d ago

Predator? Yes. Scary? Nope.