Red Panda Facts – Habitat, Diet & Photos of Endangered Red Pandas

The red panda, whose scientific name is Ailurus fulgens, is also called as the lesser panda. The red panda is definitely a kind of endangered creature that is not in the same family of the giant panda. The fur of red panda is red and brown while the fur of the giant panda is black and white. The red panda has a very long tail while the giant panda only features a short tail. Although the appearance of the red panda is not similar to that of the giant panda, the red panda is also as cute as the giant panda. You will be fond of the red panda when you see it. Let’s find out more detailed information about the lovely red panda.

Cute red panda

Fact of Red Pandas

Appearance

The red panda is like a cat, but it looks fatter and larger than a cat. Its head is round. The red panda has a round face and a short snout and white stripes on the cheek. The rims of its eyes are also decorated with white fur. Its large ears are erect forward. With black brown fur, the red panda’s four limbs are short. Its long tail has fluffy fur which is striped with nine dark brown and light brown rings. And the red pandas tail tip is dark brown.

With black brown fur, the red panda’s four limbs are short

Size

The body length of an adult red panda generally ranges from 22 to 24.6 inches (56 to 62.5 centimeters). The tail of an adult red panda is 14.6 to 18.6 inches (370 to 472 centimeters) in length. And an adult red panda is at a weight between 8.2 and 13.7 pounds (3.7 to 6.2 kilograms).

The body length of an adult red panda generally ranges from 22 to 24.6 inches

The body of a baby red panda is about 7.8 inches (20 centimeters) long and the tail is about 2 inches (5 centimeters) in length. A baby panda weighs from 0.2 to 0.3 pounds (100 to 150 grams).

The body of a baby red panda is about 7.8 inches (20 centimeters) long

Behavior

Red pandas are good at climbing. They often climb up to the high and thin branches to nap or to avoid the enemy. Since the soles of red pandas have thick fine hairs, it is also suitable for them to walk on the wet moss lands and on the slippery rocks. When walking, the red panda’s forelimbs incline inward. Its gait is unsteady, which is similar to that of a bear. Usually, red pandas move slowly. They are relatively tame and they seldom let out a shout. The red panda does not only have a slow auditory sense and a slow visual sense, but also features an insensitive sense of smell. Red pandas do not hibernate in winter. When it is rainy or snowy, red pandas will hide in rock cracks or under the shade of trees.

Red pandas are good at climbing

Habitat – Where Do Red Panda Live

As a rare animal, red pandas are mainly distributed in China, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal. In China, red pandas are principally scattered in southwest China, Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province and Tibet. Red pandas ordinarily live in alpine forests and bamboo forests which are at an altitude of 2000 meter to 3000 meters. Generally, the temperature in these areas is below 25 ℃ in summer and between 0 ℃and 10℃ in winter. The activity area of red pandas is wide. In summer, red pandas most live near river valleys of shady slopes where there are flowing streams. In winter, river valleys and basins of sunny slopes are the haunts of red pandas. After snow, red pandas even move down to live in the grasslands and shrubs near the villages. Red pandas also like basking in the sun on the cliffs and on the top of the trees.

Red Panda Diet & Food

Red pandas have an omnivorous diet. The main foods of red pandas are bamboo shoots, bamboo twigs and bamboo leaves. They are also fond of eating various kinds of wild berries, tree leaves, and mosses. Sometimes, red pandas feed on birds, bird’s eggs, small animals, insects, etc. Red pandas especially prefer to eat food that has a sweet taste. Red pandas pay much attention to sanitation and hygiene. After feeding, they clean their mouths with their palms, or they lick their lips clean with their tongues. In addition, red pandas usually defecate at a fixed location. Since they mainly eat bamboo leaves, their feces are grass green. Red pandas usually dwell in large tree holes or caves. They go out foraging in the morning and in the evening and sleep in the cave or on the tree during the daytimes.

The main foods of red pandas are bamboo shoots, bamboo twigs and bamboo leaves

See Red Panda in Chengdu Panda Base

Where can you see such cute and rare animals when you visit in Sichuan? Definitely, you can see red pandas in Chengdu Panda Base. Chengdu Panda Base is not only famous for giant pandas, but also red pandas. Chengdu Panda Base is situated in a northern suburb of Chengdu, about 10 km from Chengdu downtown. It is very convenient for you to get to Chengdu Panda Base from Chengdu downtown. When you enjoy a panda tour in Chengdu Panda Base, you can see red pandas at No.1 Enclosure for Red Pandas and No.2 Enclosure for Red Pandas. With brown fur and long tails, red pandas are very cute. You can see some red pandas lie prone on the lying prone on the tree branch. Since all the red pandas are free-range, sometimes red pandas may get out of the fence and walk around. You may come across a red panda, but do not try touching it for it may hurt you.

Red Panda in Chengdu Panda Base