The Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) is found in the Himalayas in Bhutan, southern China, India, Laos, Nepal and Burma.
Here is a map of the Red Panda territory.
What is the Red Pandas Habitat?
Red pandas live in remote mountainous areas of the Himalayas in dense forest and bamboo thickets. The forests have a dense understory of bamboo and small trees. Red panda habitat temperatures usually fall between 10 – 25 degrees centigrade. Red pandas also inhibit elevation ranges from 6,000 – 12,000 feet.
The Red Panda is classed as endangered, with less than 10,000 individuals remaining in the wild and two primary threats: poaching and habitat loss. Over the last 50 years alone, it’s believed that there has been a 40% decrease in their numbers.
Red Panda Fun Facts
1. The red panda is not a bear, despite its appearance. It is actually related to the raccoon family.
2. The red panda is an excellent climber and has been known to climb trees up to 60 feet off the ground!
3. Red pandas are proficient swimmers as well and have been known to cross rivers.
4. The red panda is an endangered species with only around 10,000 individuals left in the wild.
5. The primary threats to red pandas are poaching and habitat loss.
6. Red pandas are native to the Himalayan region of Asia and can be found in countries like Nepal, India, Bhutan, and China.
7. The red panda is also known as the ‘lesser panda’, ‘red bear-cat’, and ‘red cat-bear’.
8. The scientific name for the red panda is ‘Ailurus fulgens’ which means ‘fire-colored cat’.
9. Red pandas are around 20 inches in length and can weigh up to 14 pounds.
10. The lifespan of a red panda in the wild is around 10 years, but they can live up to 20 years in captivity.
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