Population Growth
History
The red panda population is currently estimated to be at 10,000 individuals. It is difficult to obtain the exact number due to the fact that they are isolated in nature and because they only come out during the night. Since the 1920's the population of the red panda has been decreasing (Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2012).The rate of the population has been declining more than 10% over the past 30 years. In 1994, it was estimated that the population was at 13,000 to 16,000 (Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2012). The red panda lives in forests, such as the Asian Deciduous Forest, that has very rich and fertile soil. This type of soil is used for argriculture and crops, such as wheat. However, the forests are being destroyed due to logging. This means that the red pandas habitat is becoming smaller and smaller and it can not hold as many red pandas as before. If current trends continue the population will continue to decline and the red panda will be closer to being extinct. According to a book by Angela R. Glatston, the red panda population may drop to 1,000-3,000 individuals in the next twenty five years. However, the red pandas that are protected in the zoo can influence the number by showing a growth in the population over the next few years.
History
The red panda population is currently estimated to be at 10,000 individuals. It is difficult to obtain the exact number due to the fact that they are isolated in nature and because they only come out during the night. Since the 1920's the population of the red panda has been decreasing (Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2012).The rate of the population has been declining more than 10% over the past 30 years. In 1994, it was estimated that the population was at 13,000 to 16,000 (Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2012). The red panda lives in forests, such as the Asian Deciduous Forest, that has very rich and fertile soil. This type of soil is used for argriculture and crops, such as wheat. However, the forests are being destroyed due to logging. This means that the red pandas habitat is becoming smaller and smaller and it can not hold as many red pandas as before. If current trends continue the population will continue to decline and the red panda will be closer to being extinct. According to a book by Angela R. Glatston, the red panda population may drop to 1,000-3,000 individuals in the next twenty five years. However, the red pandas that are protected in the zoo can influence the number by showing a growth in the population over the next few years.
Reproduction
Adult red pandas rarely interact with each other outside of the mating season. Mating season is early winter and birth occurs in the spring and summer. When female red pandas give birth, their litter consists of one to four cubs. The first 10 days of survial are influenced by predators, availability of food source, and traumatic injuries such as bite wounds (Animal Info & Endagered Animals. 2006). When the cubs are first born they rely completely on their mother because they are blind for 21 to 30 days. After 90 days of being in their nest, the red panda makes its first trip at night from the nest and begins learning how to survive on it's own. The young stay with the mother for about a year, or until the next litter is about to be born. In general, the red pandas that are in captivity live up to 17.5 years and captive red pandas live to 8-10 years. The mortality rate for the adult red pandas are at 44% while the cubs are 86%. This shows that new born cubs are less likely to survive than adult red pandas. The loss of cubs are usually influenced by Martens which are prey to them.
Fact: The red panda is an omnivore (eats both plants and animals). It mostly eats bamboo, but it also consumes fruit, roots, eggs and small mammals.