Do you know the red panda? Often mistaken for a fox, bear, raccoon and even a cat, the red panda is unknown, but it is present on most computers in the firefox internet browser logo. That's right, that's not a fox, firefox refers to the red panda or fire panda.
The red panda is the only one in the Ailuridae family, it is native to the Himalayan mountains and southern China. Like traditional pandas, it concentrates on bamboo groves and temperate forests. It is small like a cat, has a brown-reddish color, and a long fluffy tail. It feeds on bamboo and sometimes on eggs, insects, and even small mammals.
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Facts about the Red Panda
The red panda is arboreal and has treetop skills, it uses its tail to balance and its thumbs to grab trees. The red panda measures between 30 to 60 centimeters and its tail is 28 to 48 centimeters. Weighing between 3 and 6 kilos, their diet is low in nutrients, making their main activities to eat and sleep.
In Japan, the red panda futa at the Chiba zoo became famous around 2005 due to its ability to stand for about 10 seconds. At Safari Land in Yamaguchi, visitors can interact with the red pandas.
At 114 to 140 days of gestation, the females give birth in hollow trees or in rocks. The red panda lives about 15 years and is seriously endangered due to the exploitation of its habitat. It is relatively common in zoos around the world, there are more than 500 red pandas spread across more than 160 institutions. In addition to China and the Himalayas, you can find red pandas in countries like India, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.
Did you already know this animal? Have you ever confused it with a fox? Did you like the article? Share it with your friends and leave your comments! We recommend checking out our article: Animals in Japanese.
Turning Red - The Red Panda Movie
In March 2022, a Pixar movie called Turning Red was released. In some countries it's just called Red: Growing up is a beast. The film tells the story of a 13-year-old girl who starts transforming into a giant red panda whenever she gets excited.
The film portrays the puberty of a Chinese girl named Meilin Lee and makes several analogies and addresses various subjects and taboos. Although the bear in the animation is giant, it is worth remembering that a red panda is actually quite small like a cat.