Red Panda

About Red Panda: 

• It is primarily an herbivorous, shy, solitary and arboreal animal.
• It is considered an indicator species for ecological change. 
• It uses its long, bushy tails for balance and to cover them in winter, presumably for warmth. 
• Appearance: It is the size of a house cat, the red panda is famous for its cute face and adorable defense stance.
• Distribution: It lives in the mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal. Almost 50% of their habitat is in the Eastern Himalayas.
• 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—the location of almost 50% of the red panda’s habitat—is causing a decline in red panda populations across much of their range.

Q1: What is Indicator species?

Indicator species are organisms that can provide information about the environmental conditions of a particular ecosystem. These species are selected based on their sensitivity to specific environmental changes, such as pollution, habitat loss, or climate change.

Source: In a first for India, Darjeeling Zoo’s Red Panda programme among top 3 finalists for World Association of Zoos and Aquariums conservation award