International Red Panda Day: Amazing And Interesting Facts About Red Panda

These fascinating creatures are truly unique and highlight the diversity and wonder of the animal kingdom as shared by Sanket Reddy.

 

Despite their name, red pandas aren’t closely related to giant pandas. They belong to their own unique family, Ailuridae and are more closely related to raccoons and weasels. (Image credit: Sanket Reddy)

 

The Red Pandas were discovered in the 1820s and was named as ‘Panda’ which must have derived from the Nepali word ‘Ponya’ which means bamboo or plant eating animal. About 40 years later, Europeans stumbled upon a new animal in China and called it a Parti-coloured Bear. For the next century the taxonomy of these two species went through an array of changes based on specific observations & understanding their behaviour and lifestyle better. Eventually the one true panda was named the ‘Red Panda’ & the one that was initially identified as a bear came to be known as ‘The Panda or Giant Panda’. (Image credit: Sanket Reddy)

 

Red pandas are exceptional climbers of the high canopied forests. They have mastered using their sharp and semi-retractable claws to manoeuvre through trees effortlessly. They even have a special rotating ankle joint that helps them descend trees headfirst. (Image credit: Sanket Reddy)

 

Like giant pandas, red pandas primarily eat bamboo and when they aren’t eating they are mostly asleep. About 98% of their diet is taken over by bamboo. However, they also have a varied diet that includes fruits, acorns, insects, and small animals when bamboo is scarce. (Image credit: Sanket Reddy)

 

Red pandas are generally solitary animals, except during mating season or when the mothers are raising cubs. They prefer living alone and mark their territory with scent glands located on their feet and underside. (Image credit: Sanket Reddy)

 

Red pandas are shy and mostly active at dawn and dusk, making them crepuscular. They also spend a significant portion of the day resting in trees to conserve energy. (Image credit: Sanket Reddy)

 

Their bushy, striped tails aren’t just for balance. Red pandas use their tails like blankets, wrapping them around their bodies for warmth during cold weather. (Image credit: Sanket Reddy)

 

Red pandas are classified as endangered, with fewer than 10,000 left in the wild. Habitat loss, deforestation, and poaching are some of the major threats to their survival. (Image credit: Sanket Reddy)

 

Red pandas communicate with each other through a series of vocalisations, including whistles, squeals, and huff-quacks. They also use body language, such as tail movements, to signal their intentions. (Image credit: Sanket Reddy)

 

Like giant pandas, red pandas have a special "thumb," which is actually an extended wrist bone. This adaptation helps them grasp bamboo stalks while feeding. (Image Credit: Sanket Reddy)

 

Red pandas have been around for millions of years. Fossils dating back 5 to 8 million years show that ancestors of red pandas roamed Europe and Asia long before modern day species appeared.

Sanket Reddy captured cute moments of Red Panda that will make you go 'Aww'. (Image credit: Sanket Reddy)