Red Panda Life and Characteristics

The red panda, unlike the large one, which belongs to the bear family, belongs to the raccoon family, the question of the scientific classification of both species remains open. The population of the red panda is larger, and the animal occupies larger areas than its related panda. The giant panda is one of the most famous animals and symbolizes those species that are threatened with extinction: its image is used on the emblem of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

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Life and Characteristics

The red panda spends most of the day in the treetops, inhabiting areas from Nepal to the north of the Indian state of Assam and from northeastern Burma to the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. The red panda finds a partner only before the beginning of the mating season: the male searches for the female by the fragrant marks she leaves on the trees and the male’s interest increases as he approaches the female. Mating takes place on the ground and immediately after that, the partners separate. Pregnancy in a red panda lasts from 112 to 158 days, such a significant duration of pregnancy is due to the presence of a latent period. Approximately six weeks before birth, the female builds a nest in the gorge of a rock or tree hollow from branches, grass, and leaves, in which up to four cubs are born (Bista et al. Space use, interaction and recursion in a solitary specialized herbivore: a red panda case study 135). Red pandas are peculiar not only for their life cycle but also for their rather small physique for a jungle predator.

Cubs have a thick and warm, brown coat, and the length of the newborn, is about 28 cm, they are born blind, with closed ears. The first ten days in the nest are very quiet and calm, also cubs are rolled up by a ball or pressed to the mother. In the first days, the mother does not leave the nest and is constantly near the cubs, guarding them, a week later, she leaves the nest for a while and returns a few hours later to feed and clean them. The male does not participate in the upbringing of offspring and appears only after five months when the cubs are old enough. At this time, the entire panda family remains together until the next breeding season (Bista et al. 142). Another peculiar point about these animals is that they tend to live a social life, staying close to their families and supporting family ties.

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The red panda leads a nocturnal lifestyle but spends most of the day in the treetops, where it sleeps and rests. The panda sleeps, leaning against a tree branch or curled up in a ball, hiding his head under his front paws. Bright chestnut fur perfectly masks it in the branches of trees, the panda also climbs trees well, and its long fluffy tail when jumping from branch to branch helps to maintain balance and control the jump. The red panda can also move on the ground, while it jogs, bending its back and holding up its tail, the long fluffy tail also serves as a panda’s pillow or blanket: in order not to freeze, it is covered with its own tail. The red panda belongs to a number of predators, but it feeds on bamboo, and the panda is willing to eat grass, plant roots, fruits, and seeds, and sometimes preys on small birds, mammals, and reptiles (Bista et al. Bamboo distribution in Nepal and its impact on red pandas 357). It is one of the few animals that can eat in any position, such as sitting or lying down, and most often the panda eats in a sitting position.

Conclusion

The red panda has been studied very little, it is a timid animal, and its dark red fur merges with the bark, so it is quite difficult to notice. In Nepal, the red panda was hunted for its fur, and the Chinese made dust brushes from its tail, and brushes were used to make paintings and ink. The red panda has a mild temperament, does not fight when caught, and is quickly domesticated, it was caught for keeping as a pet.

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Works Cited

Bista, Damber et al. “Bamboo Distribution In Nepal And Its Impact On Red Pandas”. Red Panda, 2022, pp. 353-368. Elsevier, https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-823753-3.00009-0. Accessed 27 June 2022.

Bista, Damber et al. ”Space Use, Interaction And Recursion In A Solitary Specialized Herbivore: A Red Panda Case Study”. Endangered Species Research, vol 47, 2022, pp. 131-143. Inter-Research Science Center, https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01171. Accessed 27 June 2022.