Red Panda: A Comprehensive Guide to the Adorable Forest Dweller
The red panda, scientifically known as Ailurus fulgens, measures about 40 – 60 cm in length and weighs around 3 – 6 kg. Despite sharing a name, the red panda is not related to China’s national treasure, the giant panda.
There are two distinct species of red pandas: the Himalayan red panda (found in southern Tibet, Nepal, India, and Bhutan) and the Chinese red panda (found in northern Myanmar, eastern Tibet, Sichuan Province, and Yunnan Province in China).
Bamboo is the primary food source for red pandas. However, their digestive system is similar to that of carnivores, capable of digesting protein and fat. Therefore, red pandas can consume insects, birds, and small animals.
Red pandas are solitary creatures, only communicating with each other during the mating season (early winter). After mating, the female is pregnant for about 114 – 145 days. Before giving birth, the red panda will gather leaves, grass, and branches to make a nest. They usually give birth in spring or summer.
Due to low birth rates and high mortality rates in the wild (caused by diseases and poaching), red pandas are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Red pandas prefer living in high altitudes and typically sleep during the day, foraging for food from night until dawn. They are also known for their cleanliness, often licking their paws and fur after meals.
Many people find red pandas adorable and cat-like, with many endearing and naive expressions. You might easily have your heart “stolen” if you happen to see their charming faces.
Their plump tails act as “scarves” to keep them warm during cold winters. Nicknamed the “lazy saint,” red pandas spend 50% of their life eating and sleeping.
With their cute faces, even when angry, red pandas don’t seem to scare anyone except smaller animals. When preparing to attack, they stand on their hind legs and raise their claws toward the enemy.
No matter how they appear, red pandas always look adorable, like old friends preparing to greet each other warmly after a long time apart.