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The Red Panda is characterized by red fur, bushy striped tail, black and white markings on the face, long whiskers, white tipped ears. Of the two kinds of Red Pandas, only one variety is found in India.
The Red Panda likes to live in temperate bamboo forests at a height ranging from 1500 to 4000 m. Hence they are seen in the sub Himalayan states of Sikkim, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh.
The paws of this mammal are capable of grasping the stems of bamboo plants and they prefer bamboo leaves and young bamboo shoots for eating. So they spend nearly 13 hours of the day searching for bamboo. However they are omnivorous and insects, small birds, bird's eggs, rodents also form part of their diet.
Red Pandas prefer staying alone and have a life span of 8-17 years. A remarkable characteristic of this animal is that they mark their own territories with secretions from their scent glands. They emit a variety of sounds and even communicate through whistling and tail arching.
The Red panda is a highly endangered species. On account of deforestation, the Red Panda is loosing its habitat. Hunting, Trapping and trading are also reasons for its steady decline. There is probability of a genetic problem as well.
At the Namdhapa National Park in Arunachal Pradesh, the Red Panda is to be seen. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling has undertaken Project Red Panda with a view to conserving this species that is in serious risk of extinction. The wildlife sanctuary in Sikkim is also home to the Red Panda.
www.indiaprofile.com provides information on the Red panda and offers on line booking for wildlife tours in India.
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