Red panda are not only a highly specialized species, but they also play a crucial role in maintaining global biodiversity.

Recognized as a flagship species, they serve as a vital indicator of the ecological health of the Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf Forest Ecoregion—one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots, home to over 500 million people.

Conserving red pandas has far-reaching effects, protecting entire landscapes. Just like an umbrella, safeguarding red panda helps preserve the forests and wildlife within this ecoregion. Here are 7 fascinating facts about red panda!

1. Red Panda Were the Original Panda

In 1825, long before the giant panda was discovered, French zoologist Frédéric Cuvier described the red panda as the most beautiful animal he had ever seen. Cuvier, who served as the head keeper at the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, was also known for his contributions to paleontology. He initially described the western red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens).

Later, in 1897, F.W. Styan identified another red panda subspecies, Ailurus fulgens styani, now known as Ailurus fulgens refulgens. This makes red panda the original panda—the first species to hold that title.

2. Red Panda Aren't Related to Giant Panda

Though their name suggests a connection to giant panda, red panda are actually more closely related to raccoons. Recent genetic studies have also linked them to the Mustelidae family, which includes otters, weasels, and wolverines, rather than the bear family as many may assume.

3. Red Panda Eat Bamboo Almost Exclusively

Bamboo makes up 98% of a red panda's diet. They consume an astonishing 20,000 bamboo leaves daily, accounting for 20 to 30 percent of their body weight. Despite its low nutritional value, bamboo is abundant and requires little competition in the red panda’s habitat, making it a reliable food source. When bamboo isn't available, red pandas will also munch on eggs, insects, flowers, small mammals, and birds.

4. They Go by Many Names

Red panda are often called by various names, including firefox, red bear-cat, red cat-bear, and the lesser panda. These names reflect the animal's unique combination of features, blending characteristics of both cats and bears.

5. Red Panda Share Traits with Cats and Bears

Red panda, sometimes called red bear-cats, exhibit behaviors reminiscent of both cats and bears. Their babies, known as cubs, are born in dens made in hollow trees or tree stumps, where they remain for the first three months. Cubs communicate with their mothers through high-pitched whistles when hungry. Similar to cats, red panda mothers use their tongues to groom their young and transport them by carrying them in their mouths by the neck.

6. They're Classified as Carnivores

Though their diet consists largely of bamboo, red panda are classified as carnivores due to their evolutionary origins. They share an ancestor with other carnivores, including the short-snouted dog. This tree-dwelling creature, which lived around the late Miocene and early Pliocene eras, was about the size of a mountain lion.

7. Red Panda Have Six Digits on Their Front Paws

One of the red panda most unique features is its pseudo-thumb, a modified wrist bones that acts like a sixth digit. This adaptation allows red panda to climb trees and grab bamboo stems with precision. Interestingly, giant pandas also have a similar pseudo-thumb, but this feature evolved independently in both species due to their reliance on bamboo as a food source.