Red panda
Ailurus fulgens fulgens
Red pandas are also known as ‘lesser’ panda or ‘firefox’. Red panda spend most of their time in trees when they are not searching for food on the ground.
Their sharp claws make them agile climbers and they use their long, striped tails for balance. They look slightly awkward walking on the ground, with their tails held horizontally behind them. It was originally thought that this species was related to the raccoon family or even the giant panda. They have since been classified as a unique species in their own family, called Ailuridae. They can be up to 64 centimetres long with tails of 50 centimetres. They weigh up to six kilograms.
IUCN red list status
The IUCN status of the red panda is endangered.
For more info on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org
Animal class
Mammal
Conservation status
The IUCN believes that the red panda faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future. The species is listed under Appendix I of CITES.
Habitat
Forest
Population
Red pandas have already become extinct in some regions of China. Their total population is believed to be less than 20,000 and it is continuing to decline.
Diet
Omnivore. Red pandas eat mainly bamboo but will also take berries, blossoms, bird eggs and even small birds.