Red Pandaレッサーパンダ

Species Data

Classification

Carnivora / Ailuridae Source

Distribution

Native to the temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, including Nepal, Bhutan, northeastern India (Sikkim, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh), Myanmar, and the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan. Source

Did You Know?

• Red pandas grasp bamboo using a "false thumb"—an extension of the wrist bone—a feature they evolved independently but share with the unrelated giant panda. Source
• Despite subsisting mainly on bamboo, red pandas retain a carnivore-type digestive tract, making digestion so inefficient that they produce roughly five times more waste relative to body size than comparable animals. Source
• As of the end of 2022, Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums member facilities alone housed 267 red pandas, making Japan one of the countries with the largest captive population of the species. Source

Transferred or Residency Unconfirmed

FAQ

Is the red panda actually a panda?

Not in the sense of being related to the giant panda. The red panda is the only living member of its own family, Ailuridae, within the order Carnivora; its resemblance to the giant panda in diet and thumb structure is a case of convergent evolution rather than close kinship. Source

Are red pandas endangered?

Yes. The IUCN Red List classifies the red panda as Endangered, citing a population decline of over 50% across three generations driven mainly by habitat destruction, fragmentation, and poaching. Source

Where can you see red pandas in Japan?

Red pandas are kept at a large number of Japanese zoos, including Atagawa Tropical Garden & Alligator Garden, Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park, and Noichi Zoological Park in Kochi; Japanese zoo association facilities collectively housed 267 individuals as of the end of 2022. Source