Red Panda

Although technically omnivores, most of a red panda’s diet is tender bamboo shoots and leaves. They possess a pseudo-thumb, a modified wrist bone that allows them to easily grasp bamboo stalks while feeding. They may also forage for roots, succulent plants, fruits, insects, and are known to eat birds and small mammals.

At the Columbus Zoo, the red panda diet includes fresh-cut bamboo, apple and leaf-eater biscuits, and fruit (apples and grapes) for training.

Current red panda distribution is in fragmented ranges throughout the Himalayas in Nepal, China, Myanmar, India, and Bhutan.

Red pandas live in high altitude temperate deciduous and coniferous forests with dense bamboo understory and hollow trees.

The primary predator of the red panda is believed to be the snow leopard. Cubs may be hunted by birds of prey and other small carnivores.

The main threats to red panda populations include habitat loss and fragmentation, habitat degradation, and physical threats. These issues are exacerbated by the growing human population in the region, climate change, lack of enforcement of laws and regulations, illegal collection of non-timber forest products, and illegal trade of red panda skins and other body parts.

Red pandas have a rich, chestnut-red colored coat covering most of their bodies. This acts as camouflage in their native ranges, where clumps of red and brown moss cover branches in the canopy where they live. Their underside and legs are dark, almost black, allowing them to remain unseen up in the trees from the forest floor. This multi-layered fur also covers the tail and even the bottom of their feet - completely protecting the panda from harsh wind and cold.

They have large, round heads with short snouts and large, pointed ears. Their faces have varying amounts of white with dark reddish brown “tear” marks that extend from the eyes to the corner of the mouth. Their long, fluffy tails have alternating red and tan ring markers. This tail is used for balance while climbing through the canopy and can be wrapped around them for warmth.

Red pandas are excellent climbers. They have five well-developed toes with curved semi-retractable claws on each foot, allowing them to grasp bark and limbs. They have specially formed ankles where the fibula bone can rotate, making it possible for red pandas to climb headfirst down tree trunks. The fur covering their feet allows them to grip on slippery and wet surfaces well.

In the Northern hemisphere, mating season occurs in early winter with 1 to 3 offspring being born in late spring. Before giving birth, females begin to carry nest material to a den site – often a hollow tree, rock crevice, or nesting box in human care. Offspring are born blind and dependent on their mother, so she will stay with them for most of her time for the first few days. The young remain in the den for about 3 months, during which the mother red panda will spend more time away from the nest, returning to nurse or groom as needed. Eventually the young begin venturing out with mom to learn to become independent, which usually occurs by one and half years old.

Red pandas have at least seven different vocalizations, including growls, barks, squeals, hoots, bleats, grunts, and twitters. Individuals arch their backs and tails while slowly moving their heads up and down during both play and violent fights. They then move their heads side to side while jaw-clapping and raise a forepaw with the intent to strike. Before lunging, they rise on their hind legs and elevate their forelimbs above their heads. They also communicate through scent marking.

Red pandas are solitary except during the breeding season. In human care, most breeding pairs live together year-round. In the wild, the home range of one animal is about 1 square mile.

They often spend extended periods grooming after waking or eating. Although generally most active between dusk and dawn in the wild, red pandas in human care tend to be more active during the day.