Red Panda

Ailurus fulgens

Range

• Nepal, China, India, Bhutan, and Myanmar (Burma)

Habitat

• Forested mountains

Diet

• Bamboo

Despite their name, red pandas are the only species in their taxonomic family.

Much of their life is spent in trees; much of their day is spent foraging for bamboo. Their characteristic teardrop markings and white eyebrows provide camouflage and glare reduction.

They use their tails for balance, camouflage, and warmth. Their feet have sharp, semi-retractable claws and fur-covered soles. They have an extended wrist bone “thumb” that is used both for grasping bamboo leaves and for controlling their head-first descent from trees.