Common name: Red Panda
Scientific name: Ailurus fulgens refulgens
At the zoo: Arun (male, 10y) and Paprika (female, 6y). Cubs Maple and Mei Mei have been transferred to their new homes as per the Red Panda Species Survival Program, as well as their mom Sakura. Go forth and multiply lovelies! We'll miss you!!
Habitat:
Red Pandas are native to Southwestern China and the Eastern Himalayas. They are found in temperate forests, typically in mild climates of high altitude.
Diet:
Approximately 98% of a Red Panda's diet consists of bamboo. The rest varies from small birds, eggs, insects and small mammals.
Median Life Expectancy:
10 - 12 years
Conservation Status: Endangered
Biology:
Red Pandas have curved, retractable claws and a thumb-like bone that help them grip leaves, fruit, and narrow tree branches. They digest bamboo quite poorly and as a result of this they have to eat a lot of it. Their thick fur provides insulation from the cold. Red Pandas are nocturnal and typically live solitary lives.
With increases in population growth and the continuing spread of human activity in their geographical range, red pandas face numerous threats including human encroachment, loss of habitat, and demand for the per trade.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that although Red Pandas share the same name as the Giant Panda, they are not related? Red Pandas are instead closer in relation to skunks and raccoons!
