Endangered red panda spotted in Tawang
According to the World Wildlife Fund website, the red panda is slightly larger than a domestic cat, with a bear-like body and thick reddish fur. The belly and limbs are black and there are white markings on the sides of the head and above the small eyes.
Red pandas are very skilled and acrobatic animals that live mainly on trees.
It is the state animal of Sikkim which hosts the Red Panda Festival every year. The winter event features parades, live music and attracts tourists and locals alike.
About 50 percent of the red panda’s habitat is in the eastern Himalayas.
They use their long, bushy tails for balance and to cover themselves in winter, possibly for warmth.
Primarily a herbivore, the name panda comes from the Nepali word ‘ponya’, which means bamboo or plant-eating animal.
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