| Scientific name: | Ailurus fulgens |
|---|---|
| Other common names: | Lesser panda, firefox |
| Body length: | 50-63cm (excluding the tail, the tail may be as long as 47cm) |
| Body weight: | 4-6kg |
| Lifespan: | 12-14 years |
| Natural habitat: | Temperate forest with bamboo-thicket understories. |
| Distribution: | Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar and Nepal |
| About Ocean Park Red Panda | |
- IUCN 2008 Red List: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
The Latin name of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) means “fire-coloured cat”, on account of its eye-catching russet fur. It lives exclusively in temperate forests in the Himalayan foothills. To keep out the chill in their native habitat, red pandas may curl up into a tight ball with their furry tail wrapped around its head while they sleep. Poachers hunt the red panda for making fluffy coats, while deforestation, destroying their natural habitat, further threatens their survival.
- You probably know that giant pandas and red pandas both depend on bamboo as food, but did you know they also eat meat in the wild at one time? A red panda also eats acorns, roots, berries, lichens and occasionally eggs and young birds
