Today I thought I would share a few photos from the Virginia Zoo. It is a few hours drive south in Norfolk and these photos were taken in 2013.
One of the first stops was at the Red Panda enclosure. As we walked down the path we saw a couple over our heads. They were walking along a large tree trunk above the walking path. This one turned around and repeated the process several times. He attracted a lot of people.
They were very active climbing the trees and they put on quite a show.
My research online revealed that the Red Panda resemble raccoons and are about 42 inches long with a long, bushy tail. Their soft, dense fur covers their entire body, including the soles of their feet.
They use their long, bushy tails to help them balance when they are in the trees. They also cover themselves with their tails to keep warm in the winter, which is what snow leopards do as you can see from my post about them here.
Red Pandas live in the cool temperate bamboo forests in Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces in China, the Himalayas and in Myanmar. They share part of their range with the Giant Pandas.
Red Pandas eat bamboo leaves, berries, blossoms and bird eggs, though they are mostly vegetarian.
They are also endangered due to habitat loss. There are fewer than 2,500 adult Red Pandas in the wild. (Please know that this post is from several years ago, and any statistics may have changed, hopefully for the better).
Red Pandas red and black colors camouflages them from their predators. The red on their backs is exactly the same color as moss found on the trees where they live. The black on their stomach makes it difficult to see from below.
Like Giant Pandas, Red Pandas have an extra 'thumb', which is an enlarged bone for grabbing bamboo stems and tree branches. Red Pandas claws are sharp and can be pulled back like a cat. They also do not have paw pads like many mammals. Red Pandas have fur covering the soles of their feet, which is believed to add extra insulation from the cold and help grip onto slippery, mossy branches.
I found my information and a lot more at this website.
I have a few photos of big cats from the zoo which I will share another time.
Thanks for looking and enjoy your day.
They are charmers aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI cringe when I realise that so many birds and animals are in jeopardy though - and habitat loss is a common reason.
We really need to do better. A lot better.
They certainly are and I feel the same way as you about their habitat. Thanks EC :)
DeleteThey are adorable! We watch all the zoo shows on T.V., and have seen them on that. Your shots are so good!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ginny, I haven't seen any nature shows lately. I will have to keep a look out for them :)
DeleteHello Denise,
ReplyDeleteThe Red Panda is a cute critter. Great post and info. Love the cute photos.
Take care, have a happy day!
Hello Eileen, thank you, glad you enjoyed. You have a happy day also :)
DeleteThe Red Pandas are adorable! You got some great captures of them Denise!
ReplyDeleteI think so too Martha and thank you so much! :)
DeleteRed pandas are beautiful with the red hair and do resemble a raccoon as you said. Great photos
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol, they are really pretty animals :)
Deleteooooh what a sweet little animal!! your images are really beautiful and i enjoyed the information!! i know you must be missing your little trips, i am too!! stay well, stay positive!!
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie, yes I am but keeping positive and thanks for the encouragement :)
DeleteAren't they pretty?!?!?! Have never seen them, before.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are, glad I introduced them to you :) Thanks BB!
DeleteInteresting creatures! There is a slightly bigger population of them in the world at this writing but they are still very much an endangered species. They seem, but are not, a mix of raccoon and our local orange tabby cats. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that Penelope, that's a good description of them :)
DeleteHow beautiful animal,-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Anne, I thought so too :)
DeleteZgadzam się, są cudowne! Dziękuję za odwiedzenie mojego bloga, zawsze to doceniam :)
ReplyDeleteLovely to see these animals, many thanks for sharing these photographs.
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday Wishes.
All the best Jan
You are very welcome Jan, and thank you so much. I wish you the same :)
DeleteSuch a cute little critter!
ReplyDeleteI thought so too Ellen, thank you :)
DeleteHe's a darling little red panda. He really does look like a ginger raccoon! Thanks for sharing him. I don't ever recall seeing one.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome :). He is a little darling isn’t he? Thank you Martha Ellen :)
DeleteThey are really beautiful animals. I love their coloring.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kay, I agree, they are a very pretty color.
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