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10 Unbelievable Facts About Red Pandas

The Eastern Himalayan high woods are home to red pandas, which are adorable, fluffy, and roughly the size of a house cat. These mammals can be identified by their dense red fur, small snouts, and pointed ears, but their bushy ringed tails and the teardrop-shaped marks beneath their eyes really make them stand out.

The majority of a red panda’s life is spent in a tree, where they hunt for food by moving between branches with the help of their partially retractable claws. The red panda is an endangered species with a falling population, but because of its shy and solitary character, it is challenging to determine the precise number of surviving individuals.

Here are 10 unbelievable facts about red pandas

1. Red pandas are herbivorous 

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Red pandas do not eat meat. They consume both plants and animals since they are omnivores. Although a minor fraction of their food consists of fruits, berries, and the occasional small mammal or bird, the majority of what they eat is made up of bamboo leaves, stems, and shoots.

Red pandas have a unique digestive system that helps them break down the tough, fibrous bamboo that makes up the majority of their diet. Additionally, they have sizable cheek pouches that they use to store food so they can eat whenever they want while foraging.

2. Red pandas are known for their distinctive physical features

Because they have developed to fit their particular environment and style of existence, red pandas have distinct physical characteristics. Due to their adaptations, they are able to hunt effectively and evade predators, which ensures their survival in the temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas.

For instance, their characteristic rusty-red fur works wonders as camouflage in their forest environment. The majority of their time is spent climbing trees, where their bushy tails are used for stability and support. Their paws include an additional flexible bone “thumb” that helps them hold onto bamboo branches while they feed. Additionally, the black marks on their eyes may help them see better while in the woods by reducing glare.

3. Red pandas are arboreal animals

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Red pandas are indeed arboreal creatures. They are therefore ideally suited for living in the forest canopy because they spend most of their time in trees. They can move swiftly and effortlessly through the forest because they are skilled climbers and can cling to tree branches with their razor-sharp claws.

Red pandas mostly get their food from trees, which also gives them a secure area to relax and sleep. Their unique gut enables them to effectively digest this fibrous and difficult material, which they primarily eat as bamboo leaves, stems, and shoots.

4. Red pandas are crepuscular

Although they are not strictly nocturnal, red pandas are crepuscular, which means they are most active around dawn and dusk. They normally sleep in trees during the day and descend to the ground at night to look for food.

The rivalry for food with other animals may be reduced as a result of this crepuscular behaviour, as may their exposure to predators. In addition, they have lots of places to hide and rest because of their arboreal habitat, which enables them to save their energy for foraging at night.

5. Red pandas are not related to giant pandas

Giant pandas are not closely related to red pandas. They were both previously categorised as belonging to the bear family (Ursidae), but more recent DNA investigations have revealed that they actually come from different families. Giant pandas are currently placed in the Ursidae family, whereas red pandas are placed in the Ailuridae family.

Both species, despite being classified differently, have several physical traits in common, such as their bear-like form and a preference for bamboo. However, their physical traits, behaviours, and environments are also highly different from one another. While giant pandas are indigenous to the bamboo forests of central China, red pandas are indigenous to the temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas.

6. Red pandas have a high mortality rate 

In the wild, female red pandas only give birth to an average of two babies per year. What’s worse, parasites are a problem in panda habitats where mortality rates are high. Red pandas from Nepal are very sensitive to endoparasites that can be fatal, with a parasite incidence of 90.80% in the population under observation.

Red pandas kept in captivity have been shown to experience similar problems. Records of facilities housing red pandas in captivity in Europe between 1992 and 2012 showed that 40.2% of all panda deaths occurred in cubs younger than 30 days, with pneumonia being the most common cause of death.

7. Adult red pandas stay alone during the breeding season

With the exception of their early winter mating seasons, adult red pandas usually live alone. After a gestation period of approximately 114 to 145 days, female pandas give birth in the spring or summer while also working to gather sticks, grass, and leaves to create nests in hollow trees or rock crevices.

8. Red pandas tolerate quite high altitudes

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Red pandas have evolved to withstand exceedingly high altitudes and prefer high forested mountain settings. For instance, a survey of red pandas conducted in Bhutan between 2007 and 2009 revealed that most of the species were restricted to cool broadleaf and conifer forests between 7,800 and 12,000 feet above sea level on south and east-facing slopes.

A few were discovered living in forests at a height of over 14,400 feet above sea level, albeit this was the bulk of known habitats.

9. Red pandas are considered a symbol of good luck

In many cultures, particularly in Asia, where the species is native, the red panda is sometimes regarded as a sign of luck. For instance, the red panda is known as “the brilliant cat” in China and is seen as a sign of wealth, happiness, and prosperity.

In sculptures, paintings, and drawings, the red panda sign can be seen in a number of contexts. Especially in regions where red pandas are native, it is also typical to see red panda miniatures and talismans for sale in marketplaces and shops.

10. Red pandas are listed as endangered by IUCN

Red pandas are at risk of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports that the red panda population is declining and that its habitat is highly fragmented.  In addition to poaching and habitat degradation, the greatest threats to the species are poaching and habitat loss. Two more potential issues are poaching for the pet trade and inbreeding. Although red pandas and their habitats are the subjects of ongoing conservation efforts, much more must be done to guarantee their continued existence.

Red pandas are a significant and well-liked species that must overcome many obstacles to survive. These issues include poaching, habitat destruction, and poaching on top of poaching.

Even while conservation measures are in progress, it is obvious that much more must be done to guarantee the survival of this iconic species. Red pandas are vital to the ecology, and their extinction would have wide-ranging effects. We can help ensure a better future for these amazing animals by banding together to safeguard their habitats and spread awareness about the risks they face.

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