About Red panda
Key Facts
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Common Name
Red panda
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Scientific Name
Ailurus fulgens
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Geographic habitat
Sikkim, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh
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Height
< 30cm
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Length
50 to 60 cm
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Weight
Male: 4.5-6.2kg, Female: 3.7-4.5kg
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Population
Around 2500
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Status
Vulnerable
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Did you know?
The red panda has an extra thumb for feeding and climbing
Red Panda
CONSERVATION ISSUES
• Habitat fragmentation and degradation.
• Predation by feral dogs.
• Occasional hunting and poaching.
• Predation by feral dogs.
• Occasional hunting and poaching.
The red panda is a small arboreal mammal found in the forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan and the northern mountains of Myanmar and southern China. It thrives best at 2,200-4,800m, in mixed deciduous and conifer forests with dense understories of bamboo.
In India, it is found in Sikkim, western Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling district of West Bengal and parts of Meghalaya. It is also the state animal of Sikkim. Listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN red list of Threatened Species and under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the red panda has the highest legal protection at par with other threatened species. WWF-India has been working since 2005 in the eastern Himalayan region for the conservation of this species.
Our goal is to ensure the long term survival of the red panda is the eastern Himalayas. This is achieved by implementing the following strategies:
Our goal is to ensure the long term survival of the red panda is the eastern Himalayas. This is achieved by implementing the following strategies:
- Secure the red panda habitat outside the Protected Areas in Sikkim and Western Arunachal Pradesh
- Garner stakeholder participation for red panda conservation
- Mitigate threats to the red panda populations
