Zagreb Zoo

Date: 24.09.2011.

Red panda (Ailurus fulgens),also known as lesser panda, is a species of mammal that lives in Southeast Asia and its population has drastically dropped in the last 50 years. Read more and find out how you can get involved in their conservation.

Red panda belongs to a separate family, Ailuridae, and is its only living representative with two subspecies. The name Panda itself often reminds us of the giant panda, a species that belongs to a family of bears, a completely different taxonomic group. A less known fact is that the giant panda was discovered 48 years after the red panda.

With its chestnut red, thick fur on the back and black belly and legs, they have outstanding hiding ability in the temperate forests of the Himalayas. With the body length of 70 cm and 50 cm tail length, the red panda is slightly smaller than domestic cat. Almost 90% of the daily food intake consists of bamboo leaves. Other than that, Red pandas also eat roots, lichen, bird eggs, small vertebrates and larvae. They live in family groups of 3-5 individuals on a territory which they mark with their scent. They are active during dusk and at night, but activities during other times of day are not excluded.

Red pandas exclusively inhabit Southeast Asia with separated populations in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar and southern China.

Today, they are on the endangered species list mostly due to habitat fragmentation, deforestation, poaching and illegal trade. Habitats are being destroyed to make place for new roads, for timber exploitation, ranching etc.

Therefore they are protected in all areas of distribution, most of which are in China (35), India (20), Bhutan (5) and Nepal (8).

It needs to be pointed out that today, the number of red pandas is not entirely known, but it is estimated that there are some 13000-17000 individuals in the wild. The number itself is perhaps of no great importance, but it is a terrifying fact that the population has shrunk 40% in the last 50 years and that they are extinct in 5 provinces. They are recovering slowly from the population loss because they do not breed often, have a long gestation period (around 135 days), have a small number of offspring, slow development and t reach reproductive age after 18 months.

Zoos around the world, 80 of them, are participating in the red pandas conservation programme. Their behavior is monitored, their family tree is studied, zoos make decisions about which individuals should breed and which shouldn’t. This is all part of the EEP programme (European Endangered Species Programme) that deals with breeding of various species in zoo's. Zagreb Zoo also participates in that programme and has received a female from a zoo in France in 2008. In 2009, after successful breeding, a young female Shang was sent to a zoo in Zürich according to the EEP coordinator's recommendation. A year later, the pair, Amelie and Joritt, had another 2 cubs named Coco and Bamboo. These two will go to zoos in Netherlands and Slovakia as part of the EEP programme.

Zoos actively participate in species research, information exchange with experts in the field, education of the public and financial support of conservation programmes in the wild.

In order to create a proper condition for keeping the animal, it is necessary to know its biology and behavior in the natural environment. Creating good conditions for animals is only possible with great knowledge and understanding of both their biology and behavior in the wilderness. Information gathered in the field is extremely important for people who care for Red pandas in captivity. Partnership and mutual exchange of information give the best results. Some animals are easy to breed in captivity and require minimal requirements; however, that is not the case with red Pandas.

One of the more important organizations in the field is "Red Panda Network" who deal with survival of red pandas in the wild through conservation of their habitat.. The organization acts through education of local population, their participation in conservation projects and education of wider public.

One of important goals is establishing the protected area in eastern Nepal (Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung Red Panda Protected Forest) that would become the first protected area dedicated to that species. 25% of the Red Panda population in Nepal lives in that area, and the area is also important because of its biodiversity, which is one of the highest in the world. After Nepal, the plan is to expand the programme to other areas that Red pandas inhabit (India, China, Bhutan, Myanmar). You can help this organization financially, by becoming its member or adopting individual red pandas, by volunteering or participating in trips organized by the organization.

Education, as the most important part of all elements of conservation is easiest through entertainment, games and workshops that teach children and adults about basic natural values in a simple and non invasive way. If you visit Zagreb Zoo and see this beautiful animal, learn something about it, perhaps you will also want to join the conservation efforts and together with the "Red Panda Network" spread the message of the need for their conservation. Spread the word!

"Spread the word!"