Red panda

These furry fuzzy family favourites are actually more closely related to racoons than the black and white giant pandas.

Also known as the lesser panda, red bear-cat and red cat-bear they are found in the Eastern Himalayas and South-western China.

They are highly territorial and live a solitary existence except during mating season. Instantly recognisable by their red colouring (and cute face), long bushy tails (and cute face) and racoon like features (and cute face) they are excellent tree climbers and are able to descend trees head first.

Classified as endangered, there are fewer than 10,000 in the wild with the largest threats listed as poaching and loss of habitat. It’s estimated that there’s been a 40% decrease in numbers over the last 50 years alone.

An image of a red panda's face close up

A red panda at Folly Farm being cute, that is all

Red panda questions and answers

Where do red pandas live? Red pandas live in the Eastern Himalayas and South-western China.

Can red pandas be adopted? If red pandas are your favourite animal we’ve got a great gift– you can adopt a red panda today.

How big are red pandas? Red pandas are roughly the size of a large domestic cat.

What do red pandas eat? The red panda diet is 97% bamboo and they occasionally eat small mammals, eggs and flowers.

When are red pandas most active? Mainly at night and they tend to look for food at dawn and at dusk.

How long do red pandas live? Up to 15 years.

Why are red pandas endangered? Red pandas are endangered mainly because of their natural habitat being destroyed and also due to them being hunted.

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