The Giant Panda and The Red Panda: Salient features!

Pandas are the most recognizable and beloved animals in the world. The name panda is said to come from the Nepali word ‘ponya,’ which means bamboo or plant eating animal. There are two Types of Pandas in the world, Giant Panda and Red Panda. Though these Pandas have similarity in diet (bamboo), they are vastly different in terms of their habitat, behaviour, and conservation status.

1. Salient features of Giant Panda:

Physical appearance:

The Giant Panda has the size of an American black bear. They stand 2–3 feet tall, and 4–6 feet in length. Males are larger than females, weighing up to 113 kilograms, while females may weigh up to 104 kilograms. It is known for its striking black-and-white colour. It has black fur which covers its ears, eye patches, shoulders, and legs, while the rest of its body is white in colour. This unique coloration may serve as camouflage in its natural habitat. It helps pandas recognise each other from a distance, though scientists remain uncertain about its exact purpose.

Habitat:

Giant pandas are native to central China. They can be found in the mountain ranges in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. They live in coniferous forests with dense bamboo based areas.

Diet:

Although they are classified as carnivores, giant pandas have adapted to an exclusively vegetarian diet consisting of bamboo. They consume various parts of the bamboo plant, including leaves, stems, and shoots. A panda can eat up to 40 pounds of bamboo daily to meet its nutritional needs.

Behaviour:

Giant pandas are excellent climbers and swimmers, which helps them navigate their forested habitats. Female pandas typically give birth to one or two cubs at a time, but usually raise only one due to limited resources.

2. Salient features of Red Panda:

Physical appearance:

The red panda is much smaller than the giant panda. It is slightly larger than a domestic cat. Red pandas typically weigh between 3 to 7.5 kg. It has a bear-like body with black belly and limbs.They have large, round heads and short snouts with big, pointed ears.

There are white markings on the side of the head and above its small eyes. These markings could have evolved to help keep the sun out of their eyes. Their tails are marked with alternating red and buff rings.

Habitat:

Mostly they live in the Eastern Himalayas and other mountainous regions of Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tibet, and southwestern China. They predominantly stay in trees. They use their long, bushy tails for balance and to cover themselves in winter for warmth. Unlike giant pandas, red pandas are more widely distributed.

Diet:

Red pandas are also bamboo specialists but eat selectively. They prefer tender shoots and leaf tips rather than consuming all parts of the plant like giant pandas do. They also consume fruits, roots, insects, eggs, small mammals, and birds when available.

Behavior:

Red pandas are active during dawn and dusk and spend much of their time in trees for food or rest. Their long tails provide balance while climbing. They have a carnivore's digestive system that limits their ability to extract nutrients from plants efficiently. As a result, they must consume large quantities of food relative to their body size.

Conservation Status:

Both types of panda species become symbols of wildlife conservation worldwide. They face threats from habitat loss and human activities. Efforts are taken to protect these charming animals.