Top 5 facts about Red Pandas

Despite sharing a common name, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas—often considered the real panda. Phylogenetically, the red panda falls under a unique taxonomic group called Ailuridae, sharing common traits with mustelids, which includes racoons, weasels and skunks. Giant pandas are classified under a separate, distant taxonomic family of bears called Ursidae.

However, the plot thickens as the red panda was first discovered in 1825, while the giant panda was discovered much later in 1869, acquiring the name ‘panda’ as both species share similar feeding habits in the wild. So, which one is the real panda?

Red pandas feed mainly on bamboo using their opposable thumb. While their thumb-like appendages can be used in the same way as that of giant pandas, it is believed that the red panda’s opposable thumbs may have evolved as an adaptation for grasping branches in trees rather than for stripping bamboo. They also eat fruits, roots, succulent grasses, acorns, lichens, and even bird’s eggs, insects and small mammals.

Red pandas live in high-altitude forests of Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. They are mainly arboreal species, often living close to water sources and in densely bamboo covered areas.

In the wild, there are two formally recognised subspecies of red panda. Although, recent studies suggest they might be two separate species. Ailurus fulgens fulgens, which is slightly smaller in size, is mostly found in Nepal, along with India, Myanmar and Bhutan. While Ailurus fulgens refulgens is primarily found in China.

In the wild, the red panda prefers a solitary and nocturnal lifestyle. It is mainly active during the twilight period and until the early hours of the morning. During daylight hours, they can be found resting or snoozing above the ground, lying dangled or curled up on tree branches depending on the weather.

Red pandas are currently listed as endangered species by the IUCN, and their numbers are believed to be less than 10,000 individuals in the wild. However, the exact figure remains unknown.

Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation are major threats to wild red pandas. Poaching is also one of the threats to this species, as red pandas are killed for food, medicine, pet trade and their distinctive red fur. Apart from poaching, the surviving red panda populations are also vulnerable to disease, natural disasters and the effects of climate change. For example, as temperatures rise, the red panda will need to move to higher elevations.

In the foothills of the high Himalayas, we’re helping people to rebuild their lives following the earthquake that devastated Nepal in 2015.

Over the years, we’ve worked together on many projects – developing farming methods that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change, encouraging ecotourism, managing forests sustainably, reducing conflict with wildlife including snow leopards, generating renewable energy, and more.

As well as improving people's livelihoods, our work in the Eastern Himalayas has helped to conserve the habitats of species including red pandas, snow leopards and their prey.

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