Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

About Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

• The red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a small, shy, solitary and arboreal carnivorous mammal that mainly feeds on bamboo and is also known as the lesser panda.
• Species: There are two species of red pandas – the Himalayan red panda (Aurilius fulgens fulgens) and the Chinese red panda (Aurilius fulgens styani).
• State Animal: The red panda is the State Animal of Sikkim.
• Habitat: The red panda inhabits mountainous mixed deciduous and conifer forests with old trees and dense bamboo undergrowth.
• Distribution:
  • Global Range: The red panda is found in the mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, Nepal, northern Myanmar, and India, with Himalayan and Chinese species distributed across these regions.
  • Indian Range: In India, it is found in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal.
• Key Features:
  • Diet: It mainly feeds on bamboo shoots but also eats eggs, insects, small birds, fruits, and small lizards.
  • Behaviour: It is nocturnal, shy, solitary, and usually remains within a home range of two to three kilometres.
  • Appearance: It has a ruddy coat, a ringed bushy tail, and is about the size of a house cat.
  • Ecological Importance: It is considered an indicator species because changes in its population provide an early warning of environmental changes and help assess the health of its forest ecosystem.
• Threat
  • Habitat loss
  • Habitat fragmentation
  • Illegal trapping
  • Poaching, snaring, and the loss of nesting trees and bamboo
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered.
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I