Naturally, red pandas are solitary animals that spend most of their days sleeping and eating. In recent times, their population has been gradually decreasing which has made them an endangered species.
For this reason, these quiet creatures can only be found in a few places in India, and China. Come to think of it, where exactly do red pandas live in China?
Mostly, red pandas live in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, likewise Tibet in China. They are mostly found on high mountains as high as 5,000 to 13000 feet in these environments. Also, the fox bears make houses from hollow trees and feed primarily on the bamboo diet in these thick forest habitats.
Surprisingly, it is not common to find red cat-bears in all countries because they are special creatures. What makes the red pandas hard to find in other parts of the world? And why does China have them?
Read on to learn something new in this article!
Why Do Red Pandas Live In China?
There are two reasons why red pandas live in China, which are food and conservation purposes.
Let’s discuss these reasons one after the other:
There’s A lot of Bamboos in China
One primary reason red pandas are commonly found in China is because of their favorite diet – bamboo. Like the giant pandas, the red cat-bears eat small mammals, grass, fruits, insects, birds, and other diets, their food is not complete without bamboo.
Unfortunately, the red pandas may not survive for long in their environment if there’s no bamboo as it makes up 90% of their daily food.
Conservation
Another reason red pandas live in China is for conservation.
Loss of habitat to building and construction, hunting, and poaching by man is reducing the fox bears’ population. As the human population continues to increase, so is the need for more houses and roads.
So, the red pandas’ habitat and their major source of food, the bamboo forest, was constantly destroyed leading to starvation and habitat loss.
In addition, natural disasters and climate change are also affecting the red panda bears’ population.
As the years went by, these animals were continually being exposed to the risk of extinction. To prevent this from happening, the Chinese government decided to protect the red pandas legally.
They ensured the pandas’ habitat was restored, made laws against illegal hunting, and also created awareness about why people should stop harming them.
So far, the conservation program has been effective as there are different zoos in China where the red pandas are given proper care and attention. Moreover, there has been a reduction in the way people hunt these animals. Thanks to China!
How Many Red Pandas are Left in China?
The latest statistics show that there are about 3,000 to 7,000 red pandas in China. Finding out the exact number of red pandas in China is difficult for some reason. First, they are nocturnal animals, which means they are always active during the night, and secondly, the red pandas are shy animals.
But fortunately, some researchers were able to come up with a number.
There’s an expectation that the number will increase in the coming years because of the Chinese government’s effort in conservation. As of 2019, there are 46 Reserves with red pandas in China – 32 Reserves in Sichuan, 6 Reserves in Tibet, and 8 Reserves in Yunnan.
Does China Own Red Pandas?
Yes, red pandas belong to China in certain ways. Although these fox bears can be found in Sichuan and Yunnan, and Tibet in China, they are also protected by the Chinese government. As a result of the conservation program in China, 35 areas are being protected with around 42.4% of the red pandas’ habitat.
Without laws against harming the pandas, restoring their habitats, and creating awareness, the animals may have gone into extinction. Therefore, it is fair to say the Chinese government is among countries that own red pandas.
Final Thoughts
As we have come to the end of this article, take note of a few key points.
Commonly, red pandas are found in the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, and Tibet in China. They live in China because of the bamboo diet and also because of the conservation program in the country.
Also, there are about 3,000 to 7,000 red pandas in China according to the latest statistics and this number may increase in the future.
Finally, China owns the red pandas because the country is trying everything possible to ensure the animals don’t go into extinction.
Did you find this article informative? Kindly share with friends on social media!
