The Red Panda's current population is severely declining (Glatston et al., 2015). The population is fragmented so biologist have a hard time giving a accurate number of individuals (Glatston et al., 2015). It is estimated that less than 10,000 mature individuals remain in the wilde (MOL: Map of Life, n.d.). The Red panda is an endemic species in three countries, China, Myanmar, and Bhutan; however, out of all of these, China currently has the most Red Pandas (Glatston et al., 2015).
The Red Panda is currently under the Endangered status, which means it is almost extinct (Glatston et al., 2015). They were listed as Endangered because the population has declined 50 percent in the past three generations and that decline is projected to increase due to its specialization in diet and other threats (Glatston et al., 2015). To help prevent its population decline, the EU wildlife trade regulations listed it under annex A in 2017 (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library, 2021).
Some causes of the decline for the Red Panda population are due to deforestation, human development, poaching, and natural disasters (Glatston et al., 2015). One of the biggest roles in the decline have been because of their susceptibility to canine distemper, which has only gotten worse with the increase in feral dog populations around their habitats (Glatston et al., 2015). In addition, their diet is so specialized to bamboo that deforestation is preventing them from having access to nutrition (Glatston et al., 2015). Finally, human trade and infrastructure has been the biggest cause (Glatston et al., 2015). As such isolated animals, Red Pandas do not fare well when infrastructure starts to creep into their habitats (Glatston et al., 2015). Sadly, the exotic species pet trade is still alive and these are a hot commodity in certain cultures that like their pelage or think of them in a spiritual sense (Glatston et al., 2015).
Conservation actions include the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna and Flora (Glatston et al., 2015). There are many areas that are protected and prohibit hunting and poaching for the Red Panda (Glatston et al., 2015). These places also protect from deforestation to help their habitat, which then leads to helping their population (Glatston et al., 2015).
extinction- "the disappearance of a species from Earth; local extinction is the disappearance of a species from a region" (Fowler et al., 2013)
exotic species- "(also, invasive species) a species that has been introduced to an ecosystem in which it did not evolve" (Fowler et al., 2013)
endemic species- "a species native to one place" (Fowler et al., 2013)
Fowler, S., Roush, R., & Wise, J. (2013). Concepts of Biology. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/1-introduction
Glatston, A., Wei, F., Than Zaw & Sherpa, A. (2015). Ailurus fulgens (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T714A110023718. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T714A45195924.en. Accessed on 22 November 2022.
MOL: Map of Life. (n.d.). Red Panda. https://mol.org/species/Ailurus_fulgens
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library. (2021, March 9). Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens & A. styani) Fact Sheet. https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/redpanda/taxonomy