Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens
- Where
- Eastern Himalayas and southern China
- Habitat
- Temperate forests with bamboo, rhododendron, and conifers
- Diet
- Almost entirely bamboo (up to 90%), with some fruits and insects
- Size
- 20-25 inches long, weighing 8-14 pounds
- Lifespan
- 10-15 years in the wild, up to 20 years captive
- Conservation
- Vulnerable species due to habitat loss from deforestation, fragmentation, and degradation of temperate forests in the Eastern Himalayas
Fun Facts
- Red pandas have a unique wrist bone that acts like a thumb for grasping bamboo stalks.
- They're excellent climbers and spend most of their time in trees.
- Their fur changes color with seasons: reddish-brown summer coat turns gray-brown winter coat.
Learn More
Red pandas have thick, woolly coats that keep them warm in cold mountain climates.
Their bushy tails help balance while climbing and serve as a blanket when sleeping.
Specialized pads on their paws allow silent movement through dense forest undergrowth.