Red Pandas are one of the cutest animals in the animal kingdom.
They look similar to a teddy bear.
Red Pandas, despite their name, aren't close relatives of Giant Pandas. Giant Pandas are a species of Bear and belong to the Bear family. Red Pandas on the other hand, are not Bears. The closest relatives of the Red Pandas are extinct today.
Red Pandas are similar to Giant Pandas in the sense that both species of animals are mammals though, and, both of them are found in Asia.
Where Are Red Pandas Found?
In the wild, Red Pandas are found in the eastern Himalayas.
Red Pandas are found living within a few different countries in the eastern Himalayas. These countries include China, Nepal and Bhutan.
What Is Their Habitat?
In the wild, Red Pandas are found living within temperate forests.
Temperate forests are forests which are found in temperate regions of the world - these temperate regions of the world have cold winters and warm summers.
What Do Red Pandas Eat?
Like Giant Pandas, Red Pandas also mostly eat bamboo.
Red Pandas also sometimes eat other plants and even sometimes small animals.
When Is Their Breeding Season?
The Red Panda breeding season is between January and March every year.
And June to August every year.
Red Pandas And Their Cubs
The female Red Panda will give birth between May and July. Female Red Pandas will usually give birth to two cubs in every litter they have.
The cubs will then stay with their mum until they are about a year old and then they will become independent from her and live on their own.
Red Panda Personality
Red Pandas are really cute. They are also gentle and playful animals.
They usually can be found living within the trees in the forests that they live in. Red Pandas are usually found living on their own, like Giant Pandas, Red Pandas are solitary and will only meet up with another Red Panda during breeding season.
What Is Their Conservation Status?
Today, Red Pandas are an endangered species.
In 1994, Red Pandas became a vulnerable species. In 1996, Red Pandas were first classified as an endangered species, and, have been an endangered species ever since. Therefore, Red Pandas have been endangered for about 25 years now.
What Is Their Population Trend?
The Red Panda population is thought to be decreasing today. Red Pandas are endangered today because their population has declined by half in just three generations. Sadly, it is estimated that this decreasing will both continue for Red Pandas and increase for Red Pandas, according to research.
What Threats Do They Face?
Sadly, Red Pandas face many different threats in the wild which threaten their existence. These threats include mining, roads and climate change.
You can see a full list of the threats Red Pandas face - here.
What Is Their Population?
Sadly, it is estimated that there are less than 10,000 Red Pandas today.
Interesting Facts
Interestingly, Red Pandas are thought to be two species, rather than one.
Red Pandas are the only living members of their family; no other living animal that we know of belongs to the Red Panda family. The Red Panda family is called the Ailuridae family, other members of the Ailuridae family did once exist, but, they are now extinct, leaving Red Pandas as the last member of the Ailuridae family left.
Some Facts
Their Kingdom: Animalia
Their Class: Mammalia
Their Order: Carnivora
Their Family: Ailuridae
Their Phylum: Chordata
Their Genus: Ailurus
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