Red Panda

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About Red Panda:

Scientific Name: Ailurus fulgens
It is also known as the lesser panda which is primarily a herbivorous, shy, solitary and arboreal animal.
It uses its long, bushy tails for balance and to cover them in winter, presumably for warmth.
It is considered an indicator species for ecological change.
Appearance: It is the size of a house cat, the red panda is famous for its cute face and adorable defense stance.
Distribution: It is mainly found in the mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal.
Conservation status
- IUCN Red list: Endangered
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
Threats: The loss of nesting trees and bamboo in the Eastern Himalayas which is causing a decline in red panda populations across much of their range.

Key facts about the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

It is located in the state of West Bengal which was established in 1958.
It hosts the country’s most successful conservative breeding programme for red pandas.
The planned conservation breeding programme began in 1986 as a part of the Global Captive Breeding Masterplan.

Q1: What is an indicator species?

It is an organism whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition. Indicator species can signal a change in the biological condition of a particular ecosystem, and thus may be used as a proxy to diagnose the health of an ecosystem.

News: This Christmas, a gift for Darjeeling from Rotterdam: Two red pandas, named Vishal and Koshi