Red pandas are small, tree-dwelling mammals native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. Despite their name, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas; instead, they belong to their own unique family called Ailuridae. They are known for their distinctive reddish-brown fur, bushy tails, and masked faces, which help them blend into the forest canopy. Red pandas primarily feed on bamboo but also eat fruits, eggs, and insects. They are mostly solitary animals and are active during dawn and dusk. Unfortunately, red pandas are currently classified as endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and fragmentation of their forest environment. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure their survival and the preservation of their natural habitat.
Red Panda in Dujiangyan Panda Park
Red Panda Distribution Map
You may find wild red pandas only in the following countries: China, India, Butan, Nepal and Burma by the Himalayan Mountains and Hengduan Mountains. Within China the habitat is mainly in SW Tibet, Sichuan Province, NW Yunnan Province, among which the western Sichuan area has probably the highest density and population of Red Pandas. Red Pandas usually live at high altitude place between 1500m and 4500m in the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains regions. The climate in these places is cool and humid, which is suitable for the survival of red pandas. Red pandas mostly live in mountainous environments with a certain slope and undulation. This provides them with abundant activity space and hiding places, which is conducive to hiding and escaping from natural enemies.Their climate conditions are usually cool and humid and can tolerate high - altitude low temperature. In their habitats, the summer temperature is generally below 25?, and the winter temperature is between -10C - 10?. The annual precipitation is abundant, and the air humidity is high with abundant bamboo which is the main food source of red pandas. There are usually large areas of bamboo groves in their habitat.
Red pandas are usually active and foraging during morning and and dusk while the rest of time resting in tree holes or rock shelters. Red pandas migrate to warmer/sunnier places during winter and will usually have smaller spaces to move around while during summer red pandas move higher and cooler place when food is more abundant.
Red pandas feed on bamboo leaves, shoots, tree sprouts, moss, birds and eggs, warms and bugs. Like giant pandas, red pandas spend a lot of time finding food and are sometimes seen in the trees in the wild.
Red pandas have their mating season during January to March and give birth to babies after around 6 months. Babies stay with mother for around 4 to 6 months.
The number of red pandas living in the wild is estimated to be around 6000-7000 in total in China, among which around 3500 in Sichuan, around half of the total population. The number has been declining in the last 60 years due to loss of habitat, climate change, poaching.
You may see red pandas either in captive or in the wild. Each method is different.
The easily accessible zoos that keep red pandas include Beijing Zoo, Guangzhou Chimelong Park, Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center(around 20 red pandas), Dujiangyan Panda Park(around 10 red pandas), Dujiangyan Panda Valley(around 10 red pandas), Dujiangyan Red Panda Forest Park(40 red pandas). All numbers from the year of 2024.
Red Panda in Dujiangyan Panda Valley
These places include Sichuan Fengtongzhai National Reserve, Tangjiahe National Reserve, Yunnan Gaoligong National Reserve, Wolong National Reserve, Labahe Nature Reserve, Ganluo Maanshan Nature reserve, Longcanggou Forest Park, Wawu Mountain Park. Among these reserves, the more easily accessible places include Labahe Reserve Park, Wawu Mountain Park, Tangjiahe National Reserve. (We have seen by ourselves wild red pandas in the following place: Wolong Nature Reserve(in the wild), Labahe Park, Wawu Mountain Park, Longcanggou Forest Park, Gonggashan Reserve(in the wild), )
Red Panda spotted in Minya Konka(Gonggashan) in the Wild
The best season to see red pandas in the wild is in winter time from December to March. Although given the much better living conditions and more protection of habitat, we’ve seen more and more red pandas in the wild in any seasons.
Red Panda spotted in Wolong Nature Reserve in the Wild
If you have never seen the red pandas, then you may plan your visit to any of the Giant Panda Base of Dujiangyan, Chengdu while visiting giant pandas. And that only takes 1 day's time. If you are keen to see them in the wild and have only limited time, plan Labahe, Mt. Wawu and Longcanggou because these parks are well established and facilitated to allow you to drive in deep in the mountains and with paved trails to walk on and you will have chance to see red pandas from the wild(not in captive). But please plan this in winter and not during touristy seasons/holidays and at least for 3-4 days to maximize your chance of seeing red pandas in the wild.
However if you want to see red pandas in absolute wilderness (not in any reserve parks) you may consider to go to Wolong Nature Reserve and plan for 7 week in spring time by April to May when you will have a higher chance to see them in the wild. But please note this kind of trip is very hard due to logistics.
For photography of Red Pandas, Mt. Wawu, Labahe are good choices.
You are welcome to send your inquiries for any interests in this kind of trip.
Route: Chengdu/ Tangjiahe / Chengdu
Route: Chengdu - Pingwu - Tangjiahe - Chengdu
Route: Chengdu - Wolong - Chengdu
