The Red Panda
With a wild population estimated at less than 10,000 individuals these adorable tree-dwelling mammals are considered endangered.
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is very different than the giant panda which shares its name. Just slightly larger than a domestic cat, these animals weigh approximately 7-14 pounds and sport an 18 inch ringed tail. They use this bushy tail for balance and as a blanket to keep warm in the chilly mountain heights.
Almost 50% of red pandas live in the Eastern Himalayas mountain chains, but they can also be found in parts of southwestern China. Theses temperate forsests have high altitudes with bambo understories.
Although considered carnivores, a red panda’s diet consists of 98% bamboo. This dependance on bambo contributes heavily to their population decline. Their natural habitats are being destroyed due to deforestation for logging and agriculture development. The degration of their habitat reduces the availability and growth of bamboo as well as causing framentation which can lead to inbreeding. Furthermore, the animal is often poached for fur or illegaly traded.
The red panda became an edangered species in 1996 and today still remains on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threated Species.
While red pandas do not necissarily have a sepcific role in the ecosystem, but they are considered abassadors for the Himalayan ecosystem in which they live. In addition, the red panda is the only species of its kind in the world. They are the only living relative of the family Ailuridae and scientiest have argued for years over their taxonomic position.
Finally, many organizations are actively involved with red panda conservation and awareness. Recently, Rainforest Trust partnered with Red Panda Network and funded a project to protect 430,050 acres of Himalayan forests with the Red Panda Community Forest Reserve. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has had more than 100 surving cubs born in their faciliets and are working to developm new reporductive technologies for future breading. Red Panda Trust has even started a genome project to use genetics to indentify their location.
If you are willing to assist with the prevention of this species’ decline, there are many was you can help. Some options include adopting a red panda through the WWF, becoming a Red Panda Network member, suporting your local zoo’s conservation effort, starting a fundraiser, or making an online donation. Really the most important thing you can do though, is just spread the word about the need to protect wild red pandas and their habitat.
