Abstract
How can a bear live on plants? Surprisingly well. Four years ago, a friend gave me a stuffed giant panda as a reminder of our trip to see the pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC. We waited in line for almost two hours to spot Tian Tian and Mei Xiang. When we finally reached the enclosure, I eagerly pressed my face against the glass and watched the adorable bears stuff bamboo shoots into their mouths. I couldn't get over their contentedness as they munched away without a care in the world. Then a question struck me: "How can these huge bears live on plants instead of meat?"