Lesser Panda

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The Lesser Panda is a cat-like relative of the raccoon with a flowing coat of reddish-brown and black. The head-body length is 51-64 cm, the tail length is 28-48 cm. The body weight is usually between 3.5 and 5.5 kg. The head is rounded and the muzzle is short and pointed. The muzzle, chin, a patch above each eye, and the cheeks are white. The ears are rather large, pointed and edged with long white hair. The backside is dark. The tail is bushy, about two-third of the head-body length and inconspicuously ringed (about 8 rings).

The coat is long and soft, with a very dense underfur. The upper parts are rusty to deep chestnut, with a yellowish tinge, darkest along the middle of the back. The legs and the belly are dark reddish-brown to black. The sexes are alike.

Did you know?
that the lesser panda is a close relative of the raccoon? However, their habits are quite different, e.g. while the raccoon is an opprtunistic omnivore, the lesser panda subsists primarily on bamboo. Because it cannot digest cellulose, it must consume large quantities of bamboo to survive.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	CARNIVORA
Suborder	FISSIPEDIA
Family	AILURIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Ailurus fulgens
Name (English)	Lesser Panda
Name (French)	Petit Panda
Name (German)	Kleiner Panda
Name (Spanish)	Panda chico
Local names	Hun-Ho (Chin.), Wah, Ye, Nigalva ponva (Nepal.)
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Tango Chan

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Bhutan, China, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal
Habitat	Temperate bamboo forests, in an altitude range of 1500 to 4000 m
Wild population	Approx. 10,000 (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population	808 registered by the International Studbook (excluding China), of which 436 reported to ISIS

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 82 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Kristian Frisk

Why do zoos keep this animal

The lesser Panda is an endangered species with probably less than 7'000 animals surviving in the wild. With a view of building up a viable reserve population, an International Studbook has been established already in 1979 under the WAZA umbrella, and coordinated conservation breeding programmes are operated at the regional level by ARAZPA, AZA, EAZA, JAZA and PAAZAB.

The lesser panda is a very appealing species and therfore is also a good ambassador species for its habitat, the bamboo forests of the Himalayas. The bamboo forest needs such ambasadors as a study published in 2004 estimates that as many as half of the world’s 1200 woody bamboo species may be in danger of extinction as a result of massive forest destruction.

How this animal should be kept

Lesser pandas should be kept in pairs or small groups of compatible animals. They are kept in outdoor enclosures usually confined by moats, walls, or glass panels of at least 1.2 m height. Also electrified chain-link fences may be used. For a pair, a minimum surface of 40 m² is required, for each additional adult 20 % more. If kept in a cage, minimum height should be 3 m. A den should be provided for each animal.

Live or dead trees or thick branches branches should provide climbing opportunities. The enclosure should, ideally be planted with rhododendrons, other shrubs and bamboo, and the soil should be grass covered, alternatively substrates such as bark chips may be used.

Fresh water must be available to all animals at all times of day. 200 g of fresh bamboo leaves –preferably of the genus Pseudosomas should be offered daily to each animal. Other food components include grass, herbs, mice, one-day old chicks and minced meat. Fruit and vegetables are less important nutritionally to the diet of the red panda and should be offered in small quantities only.