RED PANDA
RED PANDA The Red Panda ( Ailurus fulgens ) is a mammal species native to the eastern Himalayas and south - western China. It is listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List because the wild population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and continues to decline due to habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching and inbreeding depression . The Red Panda has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs. It is roughly the size of a domestic cat, though with a longer body, and is somewhat heavier. It is arboreal and feeds mainly on bamboo, but also eats eggs, birds and insects. It is a solitary animal, mainly active from dusk to dawn, and is largely sedentary during the day. It is also called the Lesser Panda , the Red Bear-Cat , and the Red Cat-Bear . The Red Panda is the only living member of the genus Ailurus and the family Ailuridae. It was previously placed in the raccoon and bear families but the results of phylogenetic ...