Red Panda

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