Red Panda
I.U.C.N status
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Identity card
Bamboo, fruits, berries, roots, bark, mushrooms, lichen, insects and other small animals.
Did you know?
The red panda demonstrates remarkable climbing skills, being able to climb down a tree headfirst thanks to its semi-retractable claws and the rotation of its hind legs through almost 90 degrees. It also has a sixth finger on its front paws, formed by a modified wrist bone, enabling it to grasp bamboo branches more easily.
Threats and conservation
It is estimated that fewer than 10,000 red pandas remain, and that the population is in decline. This decline is mainly due to habitat loss, particularly from forest exploitation, as well as poaching. The Red Panda Network NGO has set up a community conservation project involving Nepalese forest guards from local communities for surveying, monitoring populations and fighting forest fires.
