The red panda, also known as a lesser panda or Ailurus Fulgens, is a mammal
native to southwestern China and eastern Himalayas. Since 1996 it has been labeled as
an endangered species. It is also the last representative of the family Ailuridae and
although it may have panda in its name, it is not related to the giant panda which is of
the Ursidae family. The red panda has reddish-brown hair along with a long and furry
tail. It is slightly larger than a domestic cat and feeds mainly on bamboo but is also
known to feed on eggs, birds and even insects. In captivity, the red panda has been
seen eating bark, flowers, and fruits. Similar to the panda, the red panda cannot digest
cellulose so they must consume large portions of bamboo to survive, as …show more content…
Due to their high-altitude lifestyle, their only
natural predators are snow leopards and martens along with some birds of prey and
small carnivores who prey on the more vulnerable cubs. The main threat to red pandas
are humans because of deforestations of their unique habitats and illegal hunting and
poaching of these mammals.
Why save the Red Panda?
The red panda is an unique species with its behavior and along with its habitat.
Since it is also the last remaining species in its family, that makes it worth saving even
more, considering the fact that it has no close relative. Red pandas are also
ambassadors for water and air. With the help of red pandas as a sign of having clean air
and water, approximately 500 million people are able to live around that ecological
landscape. The red panda are also indicators for the overall health revolving around the
Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf Forest, which allows conservation biologists to know the
health and factors of this region and by protecting the red pandas, it will ensure a more
empowering future for that region.
Overall, the red panda is facing extinction from the deforestation of their
native to southwestern China and eastern Himalayas. Since 1996 it has been labeled as
an endangered species. It is also the last representative of the family Ailuridae and
although it may have panda in its name, it is not related to the giant panda which is of
the Ursidae family. The red panda has reddish-brown hair along with a long and furry
tail. It is slightly larger than a domestic cat and feeds mainly on bamboo but is also
known to feed on eggs, birds and even insects. In captivity, the red panda has been
seen eating bark, flowers, and fruits. Similar to the panda, the red panda cannot digest
cellulose so they must consume large portions of bamboo to survive, as …show more content…
Due to their high-altitude lifestyle, their only
natural predators are snow leopards and martens along with some birds of prey and
small carnivores who prey on the more vulnerable cubs. The main threat to red pandas
are humans because of deforestations of their unique habitats and illegal hunting and
poaching of these mammals.
Why save the Red Panda?
The red panda is an unique species with its behavior and along with its habitat.
Since it is also the last remaining species in its family, that makes it worth saving even
more, considering the fact that it has no close relative. Red pandas are also
ambassadors for water and air. With the help of red pandas as a sign of having clean air
and water, approximately 500 million people are able to live around that ecological
landscape. The red panda are also indicators for the overall health revolving around the
Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf Forest, which allows conservation biologists to know the
health and factors of this region and by protecting the red pandas, it will ensure a more
empowering future for that region.
Overall, the red panda is facing extinction from the deforestation of their