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Name || Red Panda

Scientific Name || Ailurus fulgens

Conservation status || Endangered

Habitat || Red Pandas are found in the temperate forests of the Himalayas and some high mountain areas of China and Myanmar (Burma).

Unique Features || Anatomical features indicate Red Pandas are most closely related to the racoon and similar to giant pandas and bears but are now in a 'family' of their own. Social Behaviour || The Red Panda is most active in the early morning and late afternoon spending most of the day resting in trees conserving their energy as their bamboo diet has a low energy content. Red pandas are normally solitary creatures but form pairs in the breeding season. Diet || Although classed as a carnivore, Red Pandas eat mainly bamboo shoots, grass and fruit with the occasional egg, insect or small animal. Reproduction || After three months gestation up to three young are born into a nest made of twigs and grass. Newborn cubs are covered in thick grey fur and their eyes and ears are closed. The cubs will emerge from the nest at about three months of age but stay with their mother until the next breeding season starts. Life Cycle || In captivity Red Pandas can live up to 14 years but it is not known how long they live in the wild. They reach sexual maturity at around a year old. Relatives || There are two subspecies of Red Panda which come from slightly different geographical areas. Interesting Facts : The Chinese name for red panda is hunho or firefox, due to their colour and similar size to a fox. Like giant pandas, red pandas have an extra 'thumb' which is simply an enlarged bone. Claws are sharp and partly retractable. A red panda can consume up to 45 percent of its own body weight daily eating approximately 200,000 bamboo leaves daily. The origin of the name "panda" is the Nepalese word "nigalya ponya", which has the meaning of "eater of bamboo The red panda was first discovered in 1821, 48 years before the giant pandas were found in 1869. Breeding Programme || Our Red Pandas are part of an international breeding programme aimed at saving them from extinction. Environmental Conditions || The Red Panda is nearly extinct in the western part of its range due to human interference in its natural habitat. To enquire about donating bamboo located on your property, please call us on 801 0771. At Wellington Zoo || We currently have four red pandas at Wellington Zoo.  Two male and two female.

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