Bamboo is not just for eating
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Giant pandas, known for their laid-back demeanor and love for bamboo, have surprised researchers with a new behavior – tool use. According to a study led by Bin Yang at the Shaanxi Institute of Zoology in China, giant pandas have been observed using twigs or pieces of bamboo to scratch themselves, marking the first recorded instance of tool use among these animals.
Yang explains, “Because pandas spend a lot of time eating and resting, they give the impression of being lazy, fond of food and cute. So, when we discovered that pandas can use tools, it changed our previous perspective about them.”
The research team recorded 383 instances of tool use over 50 days of observation of 18 captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in a zoo in China. The pandas mainly used twigs or bamboo pieces they broke off trees, primarily for scratching purposes, allowing them to reach parts of their bodies that would be otherwise hard to access.
While the giant pandas in captivity displayed this tool use behavior, Yang suggests that wild pandas may also exhibit similar actions, although no observations have been reported yet. Unlike other bears, pandas have a “false thumb” on their paws, a unique adaptation that enables them to grasp objects with a sixth digit. This dexterity, combined with their relatively large brains, indicates a capacity for short-term planning.
Yang notes, “Pandas might have more complex cognition and behaviors than previously thought,” highlighting the need for further research to delve deeper into this newfound behavior and explore if pandas can be directed to use tools intentionally.
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