Facts about red pandas
The Original Panda
- Before the giant panda was even known to science, the red panda carried the name. Discovered in 1825, it was the first species ever called “panda.”
A Family of One
- Red pandas belong to their own unique family, Ailuridae. They arent closely related to giant pandas, raccoons, or bears — they stand alone on the evolutionary tree.
Bamboo Specialists
- Though classified as carnivores, red pandas eat mostly bamboo — up to 20,000 leaves a day! They also enjoy fruits, berries, and the occasional insect.
Life in the Trees
- Red pandas are expert climbers, spending most of their lives in trees. Their strong claws and flexible ankles help them descend headfirst from branches — a rare skill in the animal world.
Small but Mighty
- Weighing only 7 to 14 pounds (3 to 6.5 kg), these agile creatures are about the size of a house cat, with a tail nearly as long as their body for balance and warmth.
Quiet and Solitary
- Theyre mostly nocturnal and solitary, exploring the forest alone and marking territory with scent glands and subtle chirps or whistles.
Built for the Cold
- Their thick reddish fur and fluffy tails help them survive chilly mountain nights. In winter, they wrap their tails around themselves like cozy scarves.
Endangered Treasures
- Fewer than 10,000 red pandas remain in the wild. Conservation efforts across Asia work to protect their forests and restore safe habitats.
Mountain Dwellers
- They live high in the Eastern Himalayas, among cool, misty forests filled with bamboo, moss, and ancient trees — a habitat as peaceful as it is fragile.