Editing Red panda (section)

{{Short description|Species of mammal in Asia}}
{{Other uses|Red Panda (disambiguation){{!}}Red Panda}}
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{{Use British English|date=February 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Red panda
| fossil_range = {{fossil range|Pleistocene|Present}}
| image = Red Panda (24986761703).jpg
| status = EN
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite iucn |title=''Ailurus fulgens'' |author=Glatston, A. |author2=Wei, F. |author3=Than Zaw<!--author name is listed this way in the source; no last/first name separation is provided--> |author4=Sherpa, A. |name-list-style=amp |page=e.T714A110023718 |date=2015 |errata=2017 |access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref>
| status2 = CITES_A1 
| status2_system = CITES 
| status2_ref = <ref name="iucn"/>
| genus = Ailurus
| parent_authority = [[Frédéric Cuvier|F. Cuvier]], 1825
| species = fulgens
| authority = F. Cuvier, 1825
| subdivision_ranks  = Subspecies
| subdivision =
''A. f. fulgens'' {{small|F. Cuvier, 1825}}<br/>
''A. f. styani'' {{small|[[Oldfield Thomas|Thomas]], 1902}}<ref name="thomas_1902">{{Cite journal |author=Thomas, O. |year=1902 |title=On the Panda of Sze-chuen |journal=Annals and Magazine of Natural History |series=7 |volume=X |issue=57 |pages=251–252 |doi=10.1080/00222930208678667 |url=https://archive.org/stream/s7annalsmagazine10londuoft#page/251/mode/1up}}</ref>
| range_map = RedPanda distribution.png
| range_map_alt = Map showing the range of the red panda, a narrow band along the Himalayas and southwest China, in red 
| range_map_caption = Range of the red panda
}}

The '''red panda''' ('''''Ailurus fulgens'''''), also known as the '''lesser panda''', is a small [[mammal]] native to the [[eastern Himalayas]] and [[southwestern China]]. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. Its head-to-body length is {{cvt|51|-|63.5|cm}} with a {{cvt|28|-|48.5|cm}} tail, and it weighs between {{cvt|3.2|and|15|kg}}. It is well adapted to climbing due to its flexible joints and curved semi-retractile claws.

The red panda was formally [[Species description|described]] in 1825. The two currently recognised subspecies, the Himalayan and the Chinese red panda, [[Genetic divergence|genetically diverged]] about 250,000 years ago. The red panda's place on the [[Phylogenetic tree|evolutionary tree]] has been debated, but modern genetic evidence places it in close affinity with [[Procyonidae|raccoon]]s, [[Mustelidae|weasel]]s, and [[Mephitidae|skunk]]s. It is not closely related to the [[giant panda]], which is a [[bear]], though both possess elongated wrist bones or "[[Sesamoid bone#Other animals|false thumbs]]" used for grasping [[bamboo]]. The evolutionary [[Lineage (evolution)|lineage]] of the red panda ([[Ailuridae]]) stretches back around {{mya|25|18}}, as indicated by extinct fossil relatives found in Eurasia and North America.

The red panda inhabits [[coniferous forests]] as well as [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]], favouring steep slopes with dense bamboo cover close to water sources. It is solitary and largely [[arboreal]]. It feeds mainly on [[bamboo shoot]]s and leaves, but also on fruits and blossoms. Red pandas mate in early spring, with the females giving birth to litters of up to four cubs in summer. It is threatened by [[poaching]] as well as [[habitat destruction|destruction]] and [[habitat fragmentation|fragmentation]] of habitat due to [[deforestation]]. The species has been listed as [[endangered species|Endangered]] on the [[IUCN Red List]] since 2015. It is protected in all [[Range state|range countries]].

[[Community-based conservation]] programmes have been initiated in [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]] and [[Northeast India|northeastern India]]; in China, it benefits from [[nature conservation]] projects. Regional [[captive breeding]] programmes for the red panda have been established in zoos around the world. It is featured in animated movies, video games, comic books and as the namesake of companies and music bands.