International Red Panda Day

 

20th Sep: Happy World Red Panda Day 🐼🐼

Hi readers, forgive me for the late post.

Facts about Red Pandas-

• Their scientific name is Ailurus fulgens, which translates to "red shining cat". 🐈✨
• They inhabit the temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, including countries like Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. 🌏
• They are about the size of a domestic cat, and weight about 3-6 kgs. 😸
• Their tails can grow to be as long as their bodies, that help them maintain balance while climbing. 😁
• Although their name says panda, THEY'RE NOT RELATED TO GIANT PANDAS!!! As I mentioned, they belong to the family Ailuridae, which is more closely related to raccoons and weasels! 😯
• The red panda was named nearly 50 years before the giant panda and is often referred to as the 'first panda'. So the name panda was originally referring to red pandas! 🐼🥇
• They are great tree climbers and hence have sharp retractable claws and long bushy tails. 🌳
• They are nocturnal creatures - primarily active at night and early morning, resting during the day to conserve energy due to their low-calorie diet. 🌃🌙
• They have a unique adaptation known as a "false thumb", which is an extended wrist bone that helps them grip bamboo. 👍🎍
• They have distinctive and unique facial markings, just like how humans have unique fingerprints. This helps researchers identify individuals in the wild. 🐾
• Endangered Species: They are classified as endangered, with fewer than 10,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Their population is being threatened by habitat loss, poaching and inbreeding. 😞