Red Pandas

By Paruc3

Description

Description

-Sharp teeth, dark eyes, and sharp, curved claws. Alternating yellow-red ochre rings on fluffy tail. (RP)
-Red fur, light colored face with distinctive white badges. (NGRP)
Food

Food

-Omnivore: unusual for a mammal (WIKI)
-Mostly bamboo: most tender shoots/leaves (poor digestion) (RPN)
-Small mammals, insects, birds, fruit, eggs, blossoms, acer/morus leaves, and beechand. (WIKI)
Climate, Countries, and Habitat

Climate, Countries, and Habitat

-Nepal mountains, Assam, Sikkim, Burma, Bhutan, central China, and India. (WIKI)

-Forests, temperate climate. (RPN)

-Between 2,200 and 4,800 meters high. (High density in air) (WIKI)

-Temperature between 50 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. (Little annual change) (WIKI)

-Prefer mountainous forests that have old trees and dense bamboo. (NGRP)
Reproduction

Reproduction

-Mating season: Middle of January to early March. (RP)

-Just days before, female build nests with brushwood, grass, and leaves. (WIKI)

-1-4 blind and deaf cubs born: middle of June to late July. (WIKI)

-Recognize by scent, clean nest. Males= little/no interest in cubs. (NGRP)

-Fully mature around 2-3 months, weighing 11 pounds. (WIKI)

-After 12 months, they reach their adult size (WIKI)
Classification, Communication, and Size

Classification, Communication, and Size

-Mammals, generally quiet (WIKI)

-Make twittering, tweeting, and whistling communication sounds. (WIKI)

-Body languages: head bobbing and tail arching (RPN)

-Length: 20-26 inches. Weight: 12-20 pounds. Height: about one foot tall. (WIKI)
Adaptations for Protection

Adaptations for Protection

-Sharp teeth, dark eyes, and sharp, curved claws. (RP)

-Alternating yellow-red ochre rings on tail. (balance, camouflage with moss/lichon covered trees) (WIKI)

-Threatened: Flee. If not, stand on hind legs with claws for defence. (WIKI)
Adaptations: Getting and Eating Food

Adaptations: Getting and Eating Food

-Run along ground and trees for food with short legs (WIKI)

-"False thumb," wrist bone extension: helps descend trees (RPN)

-Hunt alone, adults almost always solitary (WIKI)
Behaviors

Behaviors

-Territorial: Nocturnal and crepuscular (WIKI)

-"Heat sensitive": sleep dangling on branch (WIKI)

- 13 hours/day looking for and eating bamboo (RPN)

-Bushy tails, 18 inches: blanket in mountain weather (WIKI)
Unusual Characteristics

Unusual Characteristics

-Adults solitary except in mating season (NGRP)

-Cubs wake up: lick fur clean like a cat (WIKI)

-Previously classified as raccoons and bears (WIKI)

-Active from dusk to dawn (WIKI)
Reasons for Endangerment

Reasons for Endangerment

-Deforestation: being used for agriculture, their natural space is shrinking (WIKI)

-Poaching (Illegal taking of wild animals) (WIKI)

-Direct harvest from the wild: live or dead, competition for livestock. (RPN)

-Inbreeding: little genetic variation (NGRP)

-Low birth rate, high death rate (WIKI)
Critical Information

Critical Information

-Medicinal plant growing, livestock management for restoration (WIKI)

-You can donate, 80% goes directly to these activities (RPN)

-Forestry carbon project currently going on (RPN)

-Protected areas dedicated to red pandas (WIKI)

Protected Areas

China=35 areas that are protecting 42.4% of the red panda habitat

India= 20 areas. Nepal= 7 areas. Bhutan= 5 areas. Burma=26 areas. (WIKI)
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