Red Panda

Oct. 11, 2024

The Red Panda Program of Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park has been selected as a finalist for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Conservation Award 2024.

About Red Panda:

  • It is primarily an herbivorous, shy, solitary and arboreal animal.
  • It is considered an indicator species for ecological change. 
  • It uses its long, bushy tails for balance and to cover them in winter, presumably for warmth. 
  • Appearance:It is the size of a house cat, the red panda is famous for its cute face and adorable defense stance.
  • Distribution:It lives in the mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal. Almost 50% of their habitat is in the Eastern Himalayas.
  • Conservation status
    • IUCN Red List: Endangered
    • CITES:Appendix I
    • Wildlife Protection Act 1972:Schedule I
  • Threats: The loss of nesting trees and bamboo in the Eastern Himalayas—the location of almost 50% of the red panda’s habitat—is causing a decline in red panda populations across much of their range.