Red Panda Profile

26. Red Panda Profile

Common Name: Red Panda
Scientific Name: Ailurus fulgens
Genus: Ailurus
Family: Ailuridae
Order: Carnivora
Class: Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata
Conservation Status: Endangered (IUCN)

Physical Description
Red pandas are small, tree-dwelling mammals with reddish-brown fur, a long, bushy tail with rings, and a masked face. Their thick coat keeps them warm in cold, mountainous forests, and their sharp claws help them climb with agility. Despite their name, red pandas are mostly herbivorous.

• Height: 50 – 64 cm (at the shoulder)

• Length: 50 – 64 cm (body) + 28 – 59 cm (tail)

• Weight: 3 – 6 kg
  
  

Their bushy tails act as a scarf in winter and a balancing tool while navigating treetops.

Habitat
Red pandas are native to the temperate forests of the Himalayas and southwestern China, preferring bamboo-rich areas with dense tree cover.

• Primary habitat: Temperate forests, bamboo thickets

• Occasional habitats: Evergreen forests, mountain slopes
  
  

They rely on hollow trees or dense foliage for shelter and protection from predators.

Speed & Agility
Red pandas are agile climbers and can move quickly along branches, but they are generally slow on the ground.

• Climbing: Highly adept, can descend trees headfirst

• Ground speed: Up to 24 km/h in short bursts
  
  

They use stealth rather than speed to avoid predators.

Diet
Though classified as carnivores, red pandas primarily eat bamboo. They supplement their diet with fruits, acorns, eggs, and insects.

• Primary food: Bamboo leaves and shoots

• Occasional food: Fruits, berries, acorns, insects, small birds
  
  

Their specialized wrist bone acts like a thumb, helping them grasp bamboo stalks efficiently.

Behavior and Social Structure
Red pandas are mostly solitary, coming together only to mate. They communicate through body language, scent marking, and soft vocalizations.

• Social structure: Solitary

• Activity: Crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk)

• Den usage: Tree hollows, rock crevices, or dense vegetation
  
  

Fun Fact: Red pandas are excellent climbers and often sleep curled up in tree branches using their tails for warmth.

Reproduction
Red pandas breed once a year, with cubs born in spring or early summer.

• Gestation period: ~134 days

• Litter size: 1 – 4 cubs

• Weaning: 90 days
  
  

Cubs are born blind and helpless, relying entirely on their mother for the first few weeks.

Did You Know?

• Tree Experts: They can navigate treetops with incredible balance.

• Bamboo Specialists: Bamboo makes up about 95% of their diet.

• Tail Tricks: Their bushy tails keep them warm and help balance in trees.

• Night Climbers: Mostly active in the early morning and late evening, avoiding predators and human activity.
  
  

Role in the Ecosystem
Red pandas help control bamboo growth and spread seeds through their droppings, contributing to forest regeneration. They are also prey for snow leopards and martens, playing a vital role in the mountain ecosystem.

Why They're At Risk
Red pandas are Endangered due to habitat loss from deforestation, bamboo die-offs, and poaching. Protecting mountainous forests and bamboo corridors is essential to their survival.