The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

References
Pasitschniak-Arts 1993 (and references therein), Suwal and Verheugt 1995, Ernst 2003, Chetri 2008,
Madhu Chetri (pers. comm.) 2010, Nepal Red List of Mammals Field Technicians Workshop 2010,
Rinjan Shrestha (pers. comm.) 2010.
ENDANGERED
31) Ailurus fulgens (Cuvier, 1825)
Common Names
Red Panda (English); Habre, Hobrakpa, Punde Kundo
(Nepali)
Species Description
Red-ginger colour coat on the body, with white
snout, inner ears and cheek patches. Dark brown/
black legs and paws. Bushy tail with rings of
alternating light/dark red colour.
Species Ecology
Red Pandas occur only in the temperate forest zone
of the Eastern Himalayan eco-region characterised
by Abies spectabilies, Tsuga dumosa, Aesculus
spp., Betula utilis, Pinus wallichiana, Quercus spp.,
Rhododendron spp. and Acer forests with bamboo
thicket in the understory with humus ground. Red
Pandas are found between elevations of 2,800 m up
to 3,600 m. This species is largely vegetarian, with a
diet consisting predominantly of young leaves and
shoots of bamboo, but also feeds on fruits, roots,
grasses, acorns, lichens, insects, grubs, small
mammals, eggs and birds.
Red Pandas become sexually mature at 18 months
and produce one to four young after a gestation
period of approximately 134 days.
Conservation Status
Global: Vulnerable C1
National: Endangered C2a(i)
Rationale for assessment: The Red Panda (Ailurus
fulgens) has been nationally assessed as Endangered
under criterion C due to a small population of
317-582 individuals spilt across 11 subpopulations,
with the highest estimated number of individuals in
a single subpopulation (Kanchanjunga) of 67. The
population in Nepal continues to face declines due
to human disturbances, deforestation and grazing
of livestock in addition to forest fires, poaching for
the species pelt and death caused by feral or local
dogs. Although the Red Panda mainly occurs within
conservation areas this species remains threatened
and in decline. It does occur in neighbouring parts
of China but it is not known if individuals ever move
across the borders.
Legal status
CITES Appendix I
Listed in the National Parks and Wildlife
Conservation Act 2029 (1973) as protected priority
species.
National Population Size
Total: 317-582
Trend: Declining
The most recent population estimate for the Red
Panda in Nepal considered 11 subpopulations
(Annapurnna, Manaslu, Darchula, Dhorpatan,
Gaurishankar, Kanchanjungha, Khaptad, Langtang,
Rara, Sagarmatha, Sakhuwasabha East,
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