- Home
- Species Description
- Habitat
- Feeding Habits
- Life Cycle
- Survival Adaptations
- Endangered Species
- Species Recovery
- Links
Endangered Species
The red panda's population is diminishing in the wild. Many threats to their population in the wild are contributing to the downfall of the red panda. Wild harvests, competition with domestic livestock, and deforestation resulting in habitat loss are a few causes. The estimated red panda population is estimated under 10,000. It was listed as vulnerable on 2012 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The population is at a constant decline that is estimated to take out over 10% of the population over the next decade or two.
Zoos are also responsible for taking red pandas out of the wild. This argument has two sides. People who appose zoos say that taking the animal out of the wild is wrong, and that the red panda, along with other zoo animals, should not be taken away from the wild. Zoo supporters argue that taking the animals to the zoos is the right thing to do. It saves them from natural problems, and they can be bred to make the red panda population larger.
The relative importance of these threats vary in each region. In India, the number one threat is habitat loss, then poaching. In china, the most immediate threat is hunting. Over the past 50 years, the population has decreased 40% in the wild (in China). Since the range that the red panda lives in is very small, one act of malice affects a large percentage of the population. The best way to protect the red pandas long term will be to prevent people from messing with them.
Zoos are also responsible for taking red pandas out of the wild. This argument has two sides. People who appose zoos say that taking the animal out of the wild is wrong, and that the red panda, along with other zoo animals, should not be taken away from the wild. Zoo supporters argue that taking the animals to the zoos is the right thing to do. It saves them from natural problems, and they can be bred to make the red panda population larger.
The relative importance of these threats vary in each region. In India, the number one threat is habitat loss, then poaching. In china, the most immediate threat is hunting. Over the past 50 years, the population has decreased 40% in the wild (in China). Since the range that the red panda lives in is very small, one act of malice affects a large percentage of the population. The best way to protect the red pandas long term will be to prevent people from messing with them.