The Gross But Effective Way Pandas Survive In The Cold

As to what influenced these behaviors, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study goes on to note that "fresh horse manure ... exhibited a strong attraction for pandas." What's significant about this is that the sesquiterpenes caryophyllene oxide and beta-caryophyllene are particularly strong in such manure. After all, you wouldn't want it to have been sitting out for a long time (that would make it gross).

The fact that the vast majority of these behaviors among the Qinling pandas took place during cold periods (and not at all when it was warmer) indicates a connection between these specific chemicals and the cold. The authors concluded, then, that the pandas perhaps felt more resistant to the cold (if not directly feeling warmer) when embracing these chemicals.

While more study on the subject is necessary, it's already well-known that pandas arm themselves against the cold in unique ways. "They have a really dense, wooly coat that sheds moisture and is thick and insulating," Oklahoma City Zoo's Rebecca Snyder said, per Nature. Horse poop may be just another foul tool in their arsenal. Unlike other bear species, they don't hibernate in the winter, so improvisation seems key.

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