Despite the name, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas. They belong in their own unique taxonomic family and are more closely related to racoons, weasels, and skunks than to bears.
What They Eat
Bamboo is the main food of red pandas—they feast on 2-4 pounds daily! Grass, fruit, and an occasional egg, insect, or small animal make up a tiny part of their diet.
Where They Live
Red pandas are found along the southern edge of the Himalayas and in neighboring mountain areas to the east. They live in high elevation, bamboo-rich forests with trees large enough for nesting cavities.
What They Do
These animals are tree-dwellers. They often use tree limbs to travel through the forest and they even sleep in high branches. Red pandas spend much of the day resting, periodically waking up to groom, stretch, and snack.
How They’re Doing
Even though their numbers in the wild are uncertain, red pandas are listed as endangered. Across their range, habitat loss and disturbance, illegal trade, hunting, and other threats are likely leading to population decreases.
Where in the World
Asia
Habitat
Mountain bamboo forests
Conservation Status
Animal Facts
Head & body: 22-25 in.
Tail: 14-18.5 in.
Weight: 8-14 lbs.
Number of cubs: 1 – 4 per litter
Taxonomic Category
Mammals
Where at the Zoo
Northern Trail
Sidebar Content
- The red pandas at the Minnesota Zoo are brothers. They were born as a set of triplets, which are rare in red pandas. Typical litters only have 1-2 cubs.
- Though they are scientifically classified as “Carnivores,” red pandas are perfectly suited to their mostly vegetarian lifestyle.
- Bamboo is nutrient-poor and hard to digest. A thumb-like modified wrist bone, strong jaws, and large molars help red pandas grasp and eat up to 30% of their body weight in bamboo daily. That’s up to 20,000 leaves per day!
- Red pandas are excellent climbers. Sharp, semi-retractable claws and fur-covered paw pads provide traction for moving across slippery branches. These features and flexible ankles allow red pandas to climb down tree trunks head-first.
- A red panda’s long, striped tail aids with balance in the treetops. It can also be wrapped over the nose or around the body like a blanket to protect from cold weather.
- When it’s warm, red pandas sprawl out on tree branches to stay cool. In cold weather, they curl into a ball to conserve heat.
- Red pandas are not silent. Seven vocalizations have been documented, including whistles, quack-snorts, squeals, and twitters.
- These animals also use scent to communicate, leaving messages with urine, feces, glands on their feet, and by rubbing other body parts on trees and rocks. Specialized bumps on the underside of the tongue and a gland in the mouth are used to detect scents. Red pandas “taste” smells to find mates, mark territory, and detect rivals.
- Tail flicks, head bobs, jaw claps, raised backs, and staring contests can reveal a red panda’s mood. Aggression is rare and these displays often result in playful wrestling.
Red pandas are an endangered species. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation is a primary threat to red pandas. Red pandas live in montane forests of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal. They need thick bamboo understories because they depend on bamboo for their diet.
Red pandas may also face threats from canine distemper virus, as they increasingly come into contact increasingly with unvaccinated domestic dogs. Poaching of red pandas is also a problem, as demand is increasing for the pet trade and for other purposes, such as traditional medicines and meat.
Things the Zoo’s done/doing
The Minnesota Zoo has supported Red Panda Network’s Forest Guardian Program. Forest guardians monitor and protect red panda habitat, as well as educate their communities about the importance of the red panda to their future.
The Minnesota Zoo, in conjunction with several other North American zoos, also participates in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) for red pandas. The Red Panda SSP helps manage and improve the lives of captive populations in North America, and through research, education, and conservation activities works to help preserve red panda populations in their natural habitat.
