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Because they don't have the enzyme that would allow them to break the beta(1-4) glycosidic bonds in cellulose.

They're scarcely alone in this... no mammals, nor indeed any vertebrates (nor most invertebrates) have this enzyme.

Those animals that obtain a significant portion of their nutrition from cellulose are doing so with the aid of symbiotic gut bacteria that DO have the necessary enzyme. In mammals, these tend to be ruminants, since the bacteria have to be allowed time to work. Red pandas are not ruminants, and instead rely on eating large quantities of a fairly poor foodstuff in order to extract enough nutrition to survive.

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14y ago

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