Red Panda

Scientific Name: Ailurus fulgens

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Common Name: Red Panda Also known as: Firefox, Lesser Panda, or Fire Cat

 

Where They Live Red pandas live in the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, specifically in: Nepal Bhutan India (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh)Myanmar China (Yunnan and Sichuan provinces)

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Their habitat is: Temperate mountain forests with lots of bamboo, moss, and tree canopies Typically at altitudes between 6,000–12,000 feet

 

Fun FactsRed pandas are not related to giant pandas—they belong to their own unique family.Their bushy tails help with balance and keep them warm when curled up.Red pandas are excellent climbers and often sleep in trees during the day.They are mostly solitary and nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).Like raccoons, red pandas use their front paws to grip food and wash their faces.They have a false thumb (enlarged wrist bone) to help grasp bamboo—just like giant pandas!

 

Endangered Status:

Endangered Population Estimate: Fewer than 10,000 mature individuals in the wild

 

     Major Threats: Habitat loss from deforestation and agriculture Poaching and illegal pet trade Fragmentation of forest areas (isolating populations)Climate change

 

Conservation efforts include protected reserves, anti-poaching measures, and global awareness campaigns through organizations like the Red Panda Network.