Ailurus fulgens

Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs.

Distribution

Endemic to the forests of the Himalayas, the red panda ranges from Nepal in the west to China in the east. It is also found in northern India, Bhutan and northern Myanmar.

Habitat

The red panda lives in mountainous temperate areas with a mixture of deciduous and conifer forests, especially with old trees and dense understory of bamboo.

Diet

The red panda eats mostly bamboo, but it also eats berries, fruit, mushrooms, roots, acorns, lichen, and grasses. It occasionally supplements its diet with young birds, fish, eggs, small rodents, and insects.

Social Interaction

The red panda is territorial. Adults are solitary except during mating season.

Conservation Status

Endangered