Red Pandas: The One, True Panda and a Plant-Eating Carnivore

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a cat-sized mammal native to the Himalayas and China. Despite being protected in all countries it has ranges in, the red pandas’ populations continue to decline. Red pandas are the original pandas; they were 'discovered' by Europeans first and their discovery gave rise to the name panda, and giant pandas were later named after them. However, we now know that red pandas and giant pandas are not related. So which species is the "true" panda? Depends on who you ask. But, since the word Panda actually means bamboo eater, are they not both true pandas? 

There are two subspecies of Red Pandas: the Chinese red panda and the Himalayan red panda.  There are fewer than 10,000 Red Pandas left in the wild, and with its populations scattered in small pockets it could easily be wiped out. 

Red pandas are mostly-vegetarian carnivores, which seems counterintuitive. However, the carnivore classification doesn't necessarily coincide with an animal's dietary preference. So while a majority of their red panda diet is bamboo, which they luckily digest slightly better than the Giant Panda, they are still classified as carnivores because of their evolutionary history.  

The red panda diet isn't the only trait they share with giant pandas. Both animals also independently evolved a pseudo-thumb, which they both use to help them eat bamboo. Red Pandas evolved these false thumbs before they started eating bamboo, though, and this false thumb might be why Red Pandas started eating bamboo in the first place. 

Listen now to find out more about the red panda and why it was once described as 'the most beautiful animal.' 

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