Red Pandas have a False Thumb?!

Nina Garza & Nazih Lewis
September 15, 2024

Meet the Red Panda!

Scientific Name: Ailurus fulgens

Phylum: Chordata

Order: Carnivora

Genus: Ailurus

Kingdom: Animalia

Class: Mammalia

Family: Ailuridae

Species: A. fulgens

IUCN Redlist Status:

The red panda, a small, tree-dwelling mammal, is native to southwestern China and the Eastern Himalayas. It is known under many different names, such as 小熊猫(Little Panda), cat-bear, bamboo bear, and “Firefox,”. Although the Red Panda and Giant Panda share a name, sometimes habitat, and likewise Red Pandas have a false thumb, they are unrelated. Instead, it’s its own unique family, Ailuridae, and is more closely related to raccoons, weasels, and skunks.

A Look That Steals the Show!

Red Pandas are known for their thick reddish-brown fur, and adorable, round faces. Their bear-like body and white patches in their face even make them resemble a raccoon! The bushy tail can grow up to 18in long, and not only helps them balance, but also provides warmth in the cold mountain habitats as a pseudo blanket. Semi-retractable claws and furry paws are an excellent aid in climbing trees and gripping onto slippery, mossy branches!

Where They Hang Out

Red Pandas can be found in temperate mountain forests of Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar (Burma) with lots of Bamboo. They prefer altitudes of 7,200 – 15,700ft.

What's on the Menu?

95% of their diet consists of bamboo. They can eat up to an astonishing 20.000 leaves every day. In addition to bamboo, they also eat fruits, eggs, insects, berries, acorns and sometimes small mammals. They have a very slow metabolism due to a low-calorie diet, so they spend significant amounts of time resting to conserve their energy.

Living the Solo Life

Red pandas are as cute as they are elusive, and generally live a solitary life up in the trees. If they do come together, they communicate using a variety of body languages and noises, such as head bobbing, tail arching, and a so-called “Huff-Quack”, as well as a warning whistle. Each individual maintains its own territory. They are crepuscular, which means they are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. The remainder of the day (about 55%) they spend sleeping.

Red Panda Families

Red Pandas mate from January to March. Females give birth to one to four cubs after 135 days of gestation. The cubs are born blind and helpless, and remain in the nest for three months after birth. Full maturity is reached around 18 months. Red Pandas can live up to 8-10 years in the wild, and up to 15 years in captivity.

5 Fun Facts About Red Pandas

Their fur perfectly camouflages them from predators. The red color matches the moss on the trees they live in and the darker, black on their stomach makes it difficult to be seen when looking up!
They are the Real-Life “Firefox”: Mozilla Firefox’s logo was inspired by Red Pandas, not by a fox!
They communicate by scent! They leave scent markings on trees and rocks using scent glands near the base of their tails to mark their territory.
Red Pandas have a false thumb! This is an extended wrist bone that functions like a thumb and allows them to grasp and manipulate bamboo stalks
Red Pandas are mostly vegetarian carnivores! Even though they are classified as carnivores, they only rarely eat meat.

Threats to Their Survival

Unfortunately, the Red Panda is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 individuals remaining in the wild.

Significant Threats are:

Habitat loss, due to fragmentation, deforestation and degradation,
Poaching for their fur. In some cultures their tail is considered a good luck charm and sometimes worn during ceremonies.
Illegal pet trade. Red Pandas are often captured and sold as exotic pets. Unfortunately, many die during transportation due to improper care.
Small and isolated populations are causing Red Pandas to inbreed, which leads to a decrease in genetic diversity.
Climate change

Efforts to Save the Red Panda

Organizations such as the Red Panda Network, WWF, and more are taking vital steps in the protection of the Red Pandas. These include habitat protection and restoration, breeding programs, anti-poaching initiatives, as well as promoting sustainable practices in local communities.

Here are a few things YOU can do to help as well:

Donate to charities with a focus on conservation, some include: International Union for Conservation (IUCN), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the Red Panda network. These organizations are out in the field protecting forests, fighting poaching, and spreading knowledge to communities.
Shop at Artsefact: Part of all proceeds go towards wildlife and habitat conservation
You can also take a more hands-on approach in the field, by participating in anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration, or monitoring the population of the habitats.
You can also OWN a red panda (ethically of course), through a symbolic adoption, which allows you to contribute to conservation efforts. The funds raised will go towards habitat protection and research.
Try to avoid products linked to deforestation, and purchase products that are certified as sustainable, such as FSC-certified wood and paper products, which help lower the demand for deforestation in red panda habitats.
Use your social media presence to raise awareness on the issues the Red Pandas are facing.