Chinese Red Panda

• The Red River Zoo has made significant contributions to Red Panda conservation. More than 25% of Chinese Red Pandas found in Zoos across the country were born at the Red River Zoo! The Red River Zoo is known locally and globally for their success in Red Panda breeding..

Many people are surprised when they first see me because I do not look like the Giant Pandas that people are more familiar with. I look more like a raccoon, or maybe a bear, but I am in a family of my own. My back fur is a rusty red color and I have a darker brown-black color fur on my belly. In the wild the colors match the moss that grows on the trees where I live. My face has patches of white that make my face very unique. My long, bushy tail has white rings on it. I am a very distinctive looking mammal.

I am an omnivore. This means I eat a mixture of plants and other animals to give me energy. I like to eat a variety of plants, berries, and fruit. Sometimes I will eat eggs and small rodents. Like the Giant Panda, I love to eat bamboo and it accounts for a large part of my diet. My favorite treat is grapes.

In the wild I would be found in the steep, forested, mountain slopes of the eastern Himalayas of India, Nepal, and Myanmar (Burma) and also in the southwestern Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Yunnam. Sometimes Giant Pandas are my neighbors.

After four months of being pregnant, my mother gave birth to me – her only cub. Red pandas sometimes have triplets, but twins or a single cub is most common. I usually like to live by myself because I am a solitary animal, but sometimes we like to live in pairs or small family groups.

I am much more comfortable in cooler weather. It is very chilly high up in the mountains, but I have natural adaptations to keep me warm. My fur is thick and covers my entire body. I even have fur on my feet! The fur on my feet keeps me warm and protects me from slipping. My long tail not only helps me balance, but it also acts as a blanket that I can wrap around my body when I need additional insulation. My tail helps to keep my nose warm when I curl up.