For many people this cute looking bear is a favourite in the animal world, but there is so much more to know about them that makes them even more cool.They usually stay in trees and are actually really good acrobats.
Size
Red pandas are just over the size of the average domestic house cat with a length of around 20-25in (50.8-63.5cm). They have extremely long tails that have a length of up to 19in (48.2cm) and a weight of 6-14Ib (2.7-6.3kg). For Its size it does not actually weigh that much because it has to be agile and light to climb trees.
Location
They live in high-altitude temperate forests across with a large amount of undergrowth with multiple different flora including bamboo and succulent grasses with a non-toxic root system. Their main range is in China and surrounding countries such as Myanmar and India. They will live and prosper in other regions with suitable habitat like Nepal and Tibet.
Population
The red pandas are well known by most people as an endangered species that we are desperate to save. They are classified as endangered by the IUCN red list with the global population being less than 10,000 individuals left in the wild at the moment. This is due to rapid habitat loss and poaching which are the two main reasons for their downfall.
Ailuridae Family Group
Recently, they have actually been classified in different family groups throughout their time since they were first identified in 1825. At this current day the Red panda (ailurus fulgens) is classified in the family ailuridae which is their very own group. After being moved from the bears and the weasels. They are actually closest related to weasels and skunks now.
Diet
Red pandas are omnivores which means they will eat meat and plants in their native habitat. Although thought to have just eaten bamboo and other stems, it turns out that these cute looking creatures will actually hunt down small birds and rodents and will make a meal out of them. Their teeth are very adapted to eat all sorts of greens and meat.
Predators
It is thought that in the wild there are a few natural predators of the red panda such as snow leopards and occasionally yellow throated martens as they are opportunistic. So mainly apart from humans these pandas aren’t ever very vulnerable to many attacks from animals. Some cubs may be eaten by large birds of prey but that is it.
Fun Facts
Did you know that red pandas are not just called red pandas. In fact they have many names such as Firefox, lesser panda and the red bear cat. The white on their fur coats is actually almost luminescent which means it glows in the dark.
Please take a look at my post about the amazing Amur Tiger
2 Responses
Fantastic
Essex jamboree a few years ago named their sub camps after Endangered animals And the red panda and amur tiger Were both represented.
A very cute panda! Beautiful colour and he looks a little shy in your picture of him/her at Cochester Zoo. I really like his stripy tail. I wonder what he/she thinks of us…