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SPECIES PROFILE
Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
Ailurus
IUCN STATUS
Endangered
CONSERVATION STATUS
Endangered
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Eastern Himalayas: Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal
DIET
Herbivorous
HABITAT
Temperate forests, bamboo thickets at 2,200-4,800 meters
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Ailuridae
GENUS
Ailurus
📋 Description
SIZE
50-64 cm long (body), 28-59 cm tail, 3-6 kg
COLORATION
Reddish-brown fur, white face markings, bushy ringed tail
ADAPTATIONS
Thumb-like wrist bone for bamboo grasping, thick fur for cold
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Temperate forests, bamboo thickets at 2,200-4,800 meters
DIET
Herbivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Eastern Himalayas: Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal
REPRODUCTION
Females gestate 112-158 days, birthing 1-4 cubs; cubs mature at 18 months
DIET DETAILS
Mostly bamboo, supplemented by fruits, berries, small animals
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Deforestation, poaching, climate change
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Bamboo Feeders: Eating 1.5 kg of bamboo daily in Singalila's forests their 6 kg bodies climb 10-meter trees with 4000 in India. Habitat loss threatens their 1000 sq km range.
2
Firefox Charm: Nicknamed ‘firefox' their red fur and whiskers charm Khangchendzonga's visitors with 20-year lifespans. Conservation protects their Himalayan bamboo groves.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Singalila National Park in West Bengal high-altitude bamboo forests host red panda sightings
Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim Himalayan habitat offers red panda sightings
Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh eastern range edge has red panda sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
November-March. Dry season brings red pandas to lower altitudes for foraging.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Trek high-altitude forests at dawn with guides to spot red pandas.
