![]() ![]() Humans sometimes hunt red pandas for their fur, and red pandas also get caught in deadly traps intended for other species. Hunting is another issue, both purposeful and accidental. Increased human activity presents higher chances of contact between red pandas and dogs, and unless all dogs in these areas are vaccinated, chances of widespread contraction are high. Red pandas are highly susceptible to canine distemper, a disease they contract from contact with dogs from human settlements. The fragmentation also increases the impact of natural disasters like cyclones, landslides, floods, and forest fires because it’s harder for red pandas to relocate when suitable areas no longer share common borders. This leads to poor survival rates for the red pandas, who often can’t find enough bamboo and other food sources when their habitats are fragmented. When human settlements, development, or other types of activity separate sections of the red panda’s range, the ecosystems are disturbed. One of the main threats facing red pandas is the loss and fragmentation of their habitat. Red pandas face a number of threats, including habitat fragmentation, disease, hunting, and illegal pet trade, all of which continue to impact this endangered species. They live at these higher altitudes because the heat in lowland areas can be dangerous for them. They stay high up in the mountains at an altitude of around 2,500-4,000 metres, where rain is frequent and temperatures are lower. However, most of their feeding happens on the ground. In the forest, red pandas spend much of their time in trees, using their semi-retractable claws for grip, flexible ankles for agility, and long tails for balance. ![]() Almost 50% of their habitat is in the Eastern Himalayas. Red pandas live in the mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal. Threats to red pandas include habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, hunting, illegal pet trade, and disease. Research suggests their population has declined by 50% over the past 18 years. Red pandas are classified as endangered by the IUCN. The two species are not closely related but share a name primarily due to their similar diets-the word “panda” comes from the Nepali term for “bamboo eaters.” are red pandas endangered? They are sometimes also known as lesser pandas, referring to their size compared to the giant panda. The Chinese name for the animal is similar, meaning “ fire fox.” A little-known red panda fact is that they were first scientifically described by zoologists in 1825-48 years before the giant panda, earning them the title of the original panda. The red panda’s scientific name is Ailurus fulgens, meaning “fire-coloured cat” in Latin. They also assist in regulating bamboo populations, which without them could grow out of control and affect the growth of other plants. Red pandas help balance their forest ecosystems by providing food for their natural predators, which include snow leopards and jackals. The mothers raise their young alone for three months before separating from them. Once pregnant, they gestate for around 130 days and give birth to litters of one to four cubs. Females are only fertile for a couple of days each year, giving red pandas a very short reproduction window. Red pandas are nocturnal and often live alone, except during mating season or when they are raising young. They eat as much as four pounds per day and have extended wrist bones known as false thumbs, which help them grip bamboo stalks. ![]() They also wrap their fluffy tails around themselves for extra warmth.Īs you might expect from the “panda” in their name, red pandas live almost entirely on bamboo. Red pandas have two layers of fur to help keep them insulated in the cold Asian mountains-a soft undercoat and coarse hairs covering it. This allows for quick escapes from would-be predators, while their fur helps them hide in their woody surroundings. With semi-retractable claws, they cling to branches easily, and their flexible ankles allow them to climb down trees headfirst. Red pandas spend much of their time in the trees in their mountain forest habitats, swinging from branch to branch. Their bodies are russet red on top and black on the underside, and they have long, thick tails patterned with rings of red, brown, and white. Their facial markings include white eyebrows, red lines joining their eyes to the corners of their mouth, and fluffy white ears. Reddish-brown and around the size of a house cat, the red panda is famous for its cute face and adorable defence stance. ![]()
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