Meet Esha, our red panda.
Red pandas are found in the bamboo forests in the eastern Himalayas. Whilst they share their name with giant pandas, they are not closely related. The name panda is thought to come from a Nepali word ‘ponya’ which means ‘bamboo eater’, something red pandas spend much of their day doing. They even have an extra thumb on each front paw which helps them grip the bamboo whilst they eat it. Spending most of their lives high up in the trees, their big bushy tail helps them balance as they climb from branch to branch.
Animal facts
Key facts about the red panda
I'm found in The Himalayas
Red pandas live in the high altitude bamboo forests of China, India, Myanmar, Nepal & Bhutan.
My favourite food is bamboo
Red pandas consume 20-30% of their body weight in bamboo each day.
I’m related to skunks, raccoons and weasels
Red pandas are in their own genetic family, Ailuridae.
8-10 years
Average lifespan
50-65cm
Body length
28-50cm
Tail length
Help us care for red pandas