Quick Facts
- Type
- Mammal
- Size
- 50–65 cm (body length)
- Weight
- 3–6 kg
- Habitat
- Temperate forests in the Himalayas
- Diet
- Bamboo, fruits, insects, small animals
- Active Time
- Mostly at dawn and dusk (crepuscular)
- Lifespan
- 8–14 years
Field Notes
- Red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas; they have their own family.
- They use their long, bushy tails for balance and to wrap up for warmth.
- Excellent climbers, they spend most of their time high in the trees.
About the Red Panda
The red panda is a small, tree-dwelling mammal native to the temperate forests of the Himalayas and southwestern China. Despite its name and a 'false thumb' it shares with giant pandas, it is not closely related to them, sitting in its own family, Ailuridae. Its dense russet fur, ringed tail, and white-marked face keep it warm and camouflaged among moss and lichen. Red pandas are mostly solitary and crepuscular, spending most of their lives high in the trees feeding largely on bamboo, with some fruit and insects.
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