A group of red pandas can be called a pack, but they rarely encounter each other. Baby red pandas usually arrive in late spring to early summer in the northern hemisphere and stay with their mothers for about a year before heading out on their own.
In zoos, some red pandas live in pairs based on their individual personalities and the size of their exhibit. Whether napping, sunbathing or fleeing predators, red pandas spend most of their time in trees and are skilled climbers.
They can even climb down a tree trunk head-first — thanks to very flexible ankles and the positioning of the fibula and tibia bones in their legs. Sharp claws and fur-covered feet also help red pandas grip as they climb. Scientists estimate that there may only be 2, red pandas remaining in the wild today. The best way to help red pandas is to educate yourself and others about these animals.
Encourage your friends and family to support conservation efforts, and research ecotourism practices before traveling to an area where red pandas live.
At home, look for ways to shrink your carbon footprint. Reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle goods to divert waste from landfills, and volunteer to clean up a local ecosystem. These types of activities help keep the air and water free from pollution, which supports species worldwide.
Skip to main content. Entry passes are required for all guests, including infants. All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the Zoo, regardless of their vaccination status.
Fully vaccinated visitors do not need to wear a mask in outdoor areas. And More Red Panda Facts. Share this page:. Is a Red Panda a Bear? Is a red panda a real panda? Is a red panda a bear? Where do red pandas live? Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth.
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Science Coronavirus Coverage U. Travel A road trip in Burgundy reveals far more than fine wine. Travel My Hometown In L. Travel The last artists crafting a Thai royal treasure. Subscriber Exclusive Content. Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars? Pandas are not meat eaters or carnivores as are many other types of bears. They eat bamboo primarily. This quirk makes for one of the unique exceptions made in the scientific classification system, placing bears under the order Carnivora, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.
However, the scientific requirement to be a carnivore has more to do with the structure of teeth rather than what the critter chooses to chew with those teeth, according to the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Carnivores must have well-developed teeth capable of shredding foods. The giant panda again meets this qualification. Interestingly enough, although giant pandas prefer bamboo, according to Panda International, they will eat fish, flowers and small animals.
As the Smithsonian National Zoological Park notes, the classification of the giant panda has been a topic of debate for many years among the scientists responsible for making such decisions.
Up until more advanced DNA testing confirmed a closer genetic relationship to bears, scientists grouped giant pandas with racoons because of their long wrist bones that allow the panda to hold plants. This species is endangered. As of , there were approximately 1, pandas worldwide -- including those in zoos and breeding programs.
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