Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) belongs to Carnivora Order and Ailuridae Family. It is native to Nepal, Sikkim, Myanmar, South China etc. It is found in Langtang National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Kanchanjunga Conservation Area and Makalu Barun National Park of Nepal. The national population size of red panda has been estimated to be 317-582 individuals (Jnawali et al. 2011). The lifespan of red panda is 15 years. Its body shape is round head, triangular ear, short legs and shaggy tail. Its face and lower body part is whitish in colour while the rest part is reddish brown colour. Its height is 0.4 m, length 0.7 m, tail 0.4 m long and weight is about 3 to 4 kg. The gestation period of red panda is 112 to 158 days. The characteristic feature of red panda is that it feeds mainly on bamboo. It is listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List category and Appendix I of CITES. The legal status of this species in Nepal is Protected (Appendix I) under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973. National red list of mammals categorizes it as an endangered species. It is protected because of its heavy habitat loss. It is traded in national and international markets due to colourful skin.
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