R E D  P A N D A S, A i l u r u s  f u l g e n s

The major threats that red pandas face include, but are not limited to, habitat loss and fragmentation, habitat degradation, and physical threats. These threats are all due to the increase in human population, climate change, natural disasters, inadequate law enforcement, the illegal collection of non-timber forest products, and red panda trade.

 

The red panda’s diet consists primarily of bamboo. Bamboo is known to mass flower and then die off.They are not easily re-established after flowering in areas that are victims of environmental degradation and deforestation.  This is not a sustainable nutritional source for the red panda.

 

Red pandas are also highly susceptible to canine distemper, a lethal sickness for them. Randas are infected through carrier domestic dogs. As the human population invades the red panda’s habitat they introduce this threat.

 

Hunting and trade is increasing since people are demanding them as pets. This is probably due to people seeing them in pictures on the internet. Deforestation and road building make it easier for poachers to get ahold of these animals in the wild.

The human population in the Eastern Himalayas is rapidly growing causing them to move into the red panda’s habitat. the loss of their home causes the threats listed above to increase.