The Red Panda or Lesser Panda is a reclusive species that lives in the forests of the Himalayas.
Well-known names for it include Habre (common in Nepal), Firefox (the browser of the same name was named after it) or simply Wah, a variation of regional terms from its area of distribution.
The genus (Ailurus) comprises two species: Ailurus fulgens and Ailurus styani (see “Species and distribution”).
The Red Panda is considered endangered. According to estimates, there are only less than 10,000 animals left in the wild.
Facts & figures
- The Red Panda weighs between 3.7 and 6.2 kg and its body length is 56 – 62 cm. The tail, with its distinctive rings, is about 28 – 49 cm long. However, these are only approximate sizes and can vary depending on the species.
- The Red Panda is considered a solitary animal outside the mating season. However, this assumption is not uncontroversial. There is still a lack of data, especially in the wild.
- The Red Panda is most active at dawn and dusk. It spends most of its time resting on trees to conserve energy. This is due to its diet, which consists mainly of nutrient-poor bamboo.
- The Red Panda becomes sexually mature at the age of 18 – 20 months. The average gestation period is 135 days. Two cubs are born per litter (up to four are possible).
- Births occur in the early summer months. Between June and August in the Northern Hemisphere and between December and February in the Southern Hemisphere. Learn more here.
- A newborn Red Panda weighs 110–130 grams and gains 7–20 grams per day. Its eyes and ears are closed until the 18th day after birth.
- In zoos, the average lifespan of the Red Panda is 10–12 years. In the wild, about 8 years.
The carnivore who isn’t carnivorous
The Red Panda is the only living member of the Ailuridae family. It is part of the superfamily Musteloidea (marten relatives) and belongs to the order Carnivora. Despite this affiliation, the Red Panda is primarily a herbivore. It feeds mainly on bamboo leaves and only occasionally supplements its diet with animal protein.
Due to its specialization in eating bamboo, the Red Panda has developed a “false thumb” that allows it to hold bamboo branches and easily pick off the leaves.
This special feature has also evolved in the Giant Panda – but contrary to popular belief, the Red Panda is not related to the Giant Panda.
Species and distribution
Genetic analyses now suggest that there are two species of Red Panda – a view that is also supported by the scientific literature (see below for references).
Ailurus (fulgens) fulgens, the Himalayan Red Panda, is found in Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Tibet. One of its distinguishing features is the white fur on its face.
Ailurus (fulgens) styani is native to China (Sichuan and Yunnan provinces). Compared to the Himalayan Red Panda, it is slightly larger and has a reddish coat on its face. The rings on the tail are also more pronounced.
Photo: Sharon Ang – Pixabay
Background: The discovery of the “Ailurus fulgens”
The Red Panda was given its zoological name Ailurus fulgens by the French zoologist Frédéric Georges Cuvier in 1825.
However, the British general Thomas Hardwicke probably first described the Red Panda in 1821. Later, the British naturalist Brian Houghton Hodgson, who was stationed in Nepal, studied the Red Panda. Much of what we know about the animal today can be traced back to him.
In the wild
The Red Panda lives in subtropical forests at altitudes between about 2,500 and 4,800 meters above sea level. There have also been isolated sightings at lower altitudes.
Natural predators include leopards, but not Snow Leopards, which prefer other altitudes.
Endangered species
It is estimated that fewer than 10,000 Red Pandas remain in the wild. They are listed as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their population is declining.
The threats to the Red Panda are many:
- Deforestation for firewood and agricultural land has reduced its habitat.
- It suffers from poaching and the illegal trade in live animals – even though the Red Panda is completely unsuitable as a pet.
- The Red Panda is also affected by climate change.
- Stray dogs carry distemper, which is fatal to the Red Panda.
- Highly fragmented nature reserves severely limit the Red Panda’s ability to find mates. This has a negative impact on genetic diversity.
Red Panda conservation organizations
Red Panda Network (Focus on Nepal and Bhutan)
Fauna & Flora (Focus on Myanmar)
WWF (Focus on the Eastern Himalayas)
WWF Germany (Focus on Bhutan)
EDGE of Existence Programme at the Zoological Society of London (Focus on Sikkim/India)
References and additional information
Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens & A. styani) Fact Sheet. c2011-2020. San Diego (CA): San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; [accessed 2024 May 04].
IUCN Red List (Ailurus fulgens)
Glatston, Angela R. Red Panda. Second edition, 2022.
Weerman, J. (2021). EAZA Best Practice Guidelines for the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) – 2nd edition. European Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
AZA Small Carnivore TAG (2012). Red panda Care Manual. Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Silver Spring, MD. pp. 90.