Find out more about Red Pandas in our guide
The red panda is a very well-known and adored mammal that is a family favourite in zoos and wildlife parks across the world.
The red panda has a very recognisable (and adorable) appearance. They are slightly larger than a house cat, have reddish-brown coats of fur and a bear-like body. The arms, legs and body of the red panda is black, and they have white markings on the side of the head and above the eyes.
Red pandas are small in stature and only weigh between 8 to 17lbs. They can grow to 20 to 25 inches with an additional tail size of 11 to 19 inches.
Ailrus fulgens is the scientific name given to the red panda back in 1825, they belong to the taxonomic family, Ailuridae.
In the wild, red pandas can be found in high altitude forests of Nepal, India, northern Myanmar (Burma), Central China and Bhutan. They will live most of their lives in trees.
A baby red panda is called a cub.
A litter will often range between one to four cubs. Babies will stay with their mother for approximately one year after birth. The challenge that red pandas face around reproduction is that females are only fertile for a couple of days per year, making it a very small window to mate.
Red pandas are omnivores which means that they eat both plants and animals. They will mainly feed on bamboo and leaves, but can also be found eating insects, bird eggs, fruit and small mammals.
There are estimated to be around 2500 to 10,000 red pandas left in the wild, worldwide! This makes the red panda classified as an endangered species.
Red pandas have grown to adapt well to their environment. They have a soft, dense woolly undercoat covered by long, coarse guard hairs. Long, bushy tails help these arboreal animals maintain balance and protect them from harsh cold and winds. Dense fur completely covers their feet which have five, widely separated toes and semi-retractable claws.
Although the red panda uses sounds to communicate, they are generally quiet animals. They will use a combination of huff quacks, twitters, and squeals. When signalling danger, they will make a hiss or grunt sound.
Their primary predator is the snow leopard however occasionally martens.
Red pandas are often found in rainy mountain forests in high-altitude regions amongst rocks and trees.
In captivity the red panda can live between 9-13 years, however a male red panda has been recorded to have lived till it was 21 years. So really their life span is unknown.
Red pandas can stand on their hind legs to make themselves look a lot bigger! They will also make loud noises, use their sharp claws or a foul smell from their glands.
Unfortunately, the red panda is currently an endangered species with the population on a downward trend. The biggest threats to the red panda, and the cause of its endangered status are loss of habitat due to logging and agriculture, as well as diseases spread by domesticated animals. Hunting is also a threat to this species as their fur is sought after.
If you want to help our conservation efforts and support the red pandas here at Paradise Wildlife Park you can adopt one of our animals today. Or, if you want to meet one of our animals in person you can book our red panda experience. Both are perfect as a gift for yourself or a friend or family member.
