A red panda standing on a mossy tree branch
Photo: Sunuwargr · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mammal

Red Panda Facts

Ailurus fulgens

MammalEastern HimalayasOmnivore

Red pandas are small, tree-dwelling mammals native to the eastern Himalayas. Their flexible ankles and sharp claws make them agile climbers in steep temperate forests.

Habitat
Temperate Forest
Diet
Bamboo, fruit, eggs, and insects
Lifespan
8–10 years

Red Panda Facts at a Glance

Red pandas are small, tree-dwelling mammals native to the eastern Himalayas. Their flexible ankles and sharp claws make them agile climbers in steep temperate forests.

It belongs to the family Ailuridae in the order Carnivora. This profile is designed as a concise starting point; the source names below document the review basis.

Red Panda Habitat

Red Pandas live in Temperate Forest and Mountain habitats. Their recorded range includes Eastern Himalayas. Suitable food, shelter, and conditions for raising young help shape that range.

What Do Red Pandas Eat?

Red Pandas have a omnivore diet that includes Bamboo, fruit, eggs, and insects. The food available in their environment shapes how they find, hunt, forage for, or receive meals.

Red Panda Lifespan, Size, and Weight

Red Pandas typically live for 8–10 years. Adults measure about 50–64 cm and weigh around 3.7–6.2 kg; these ranges can vary with sex, age, environment, and access to food.

Red Panda Conservation Status

Red Panda is listed here as Endangered. Protecting habitat, maintaining healthy prey or food sources, and reducing human pressure are important parts of conserving wild populations.

Quick facts

Region
Eastern Himalayas
Habitat
Temperate Forest, Mountain
Diet
Omnivore
Lifespan
8–10 years
Size
50–64 cm
Weight
3.7–6.2 kg

Fun facts

  • Red pandas can rotate their ankles to climb down trees headfirst.
  • Their long, ringed tails help with balance and provide warmth while resting.
  • A wrist-bone extension works like a false thumb for gripping bamboo.
  • They are the only living members of the family Ailuridae.

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Sources and image credit

Animal facts are reviewed against the references below. The photograph remains available under the stated license.