What is Red panda?
The red panda, Ailurus fulgens, is a small arboreal mammal of temperate Himalayan forests. It eats bamboo but belongs to a different family from the giant panda.
Traits and way of life
1. Species and identifying features Reddish fur, a long ringed tail and a grasping wrist structure help identify this member of the family Ailuridae. The tail aids balance and insulation. 2. Habitat and diet It lives in cool forests with bamboo, eating shoots and leaves alongside some fruit and other foods. Forest fragmentation reduces suitable connected habitat.
Behavior and conservation
3. Behavior and reproduction Usually solitary, it communicates through scent. Activity varies with temperature. Females shelter dependent young in a nest. 4. Ecology and conservation Deforestation, capture and diseases associated with domestic animals are threats. Protecting connected forest and reducing human pressure are important.