Different Species Of Pandas And Where To Find Them

There are basically 3 types of pandas but the experts identify them into 2 species only.

The giant panda and the red panda are the only two panda species found on the earth. Despite their similarity in name, the two are not scientifically connected. They share the same geographical area and similar food. Because the giant panda is a bear species, it is referred to as a “panda bear” in some places. These animals can grow to be extremely enormous, and their colouring is distinctive. They are mostly white with large black patches around their eyes, ears, and other parts of their body.

The red panda, as its name suggests, has a rusty tint and is much smaller than the other pandas. In most situations, they are similar in size and agility to domestic cats, and they prefer to dwell in rockier, more hilly terrains. In the wild, the two rarely, if ever, come into contact with one another.

 

The Giant Panda

The scientific name for the giant panda is Ailuropoda melanoleuca, and molecular research has revealed that it is a real bear belonging to the Ursidae family. It is commonly considered to be one of the gentlest bears, and it is mostly a herbivore, which may account for its lack of violence.

The average height of a giant panda is between five and six feet (152.5-183 cm), which is around the same height as a person. Bears, on the other hand, are much heavier, weighing in at over 200 pounds on a daily basis (about 91 kg). Bears are a significant element of Chinese culture, and it is thought that pandas were originally the most prized animal in the emperor’s exotic animal park.

 

 

Bears devour roughly 80 pounds (36.4 kg) of bamboo every day, putting a restriction on their habitat. In short, they require to dwell in areas with abundant and dense forests, as well as a constant supply of food. When food is sparse, they have been known to devour small rodents and other animals; when food is plentiful, they have been known to eat honey, eggs, fish, and fruits such as oranges and bananas.

The animals will normally eat for about 16 hours every day. This panda’s paw is made up of a thumb and four fingers, with the thumb’s sole use being to hold bamboo while feeding. The animals are also climbers and can scale large heights despite their size and weight.

The Giant Panda is found in China.

 

The Red Panda

Red pandas, scientifically known as Ailurus fulgens, are not bears at all. They have the appearance of a hybrid between a cat and a fox and are roughly the same size as both, yet many people believe they have a bear-like appearance, at least in the face. Their typical height is about 24 inches (61 cm), and they weigh around 13 pounds at their heaviest (5.9kg). They have long, bushy tails that they use to keep themselves warm while sleeping and for balance when climbing and swinging through the trees.

The red panda is a Chinese animal that can also be found in Bhutan, Nepal, and areas of northern India. These animals prefer dense coniferous woods and can be found on the steeper slopes of the Himalayan Mountains rather than the lowland bamboo groves that bears enjoy. The red panda’s diet is mostly bamboo, like the giant panda’s, although they also eat berries, mushrooms, acorns, and a variety of grasses.

 

 

The Red Panda is found in India, China, Nepal, and Bhutan.

 

SINGALILA NATIONAL PARK | RED PANDAS IN INDIA – The Red Panda is an absolutely adorable animal that inhabits the montane forests of Singalila National Park in West Bengal. This is the best place in the world to spot these fascinating creatures as a safari tour into the Rhododendron and Mixed High Altitude forests of the Singalila Ridge is a sure way to see the Firefox along with a host almost 300 unique and rare birds of East India. On the other hand, Kaziranga National Park is one of the most enthralling wildlife hotspots in all of Asia.

REACH SINGALILA NATIONAL PARK –

By road: Singalila National Park is well connected by road. But the roads are circular and the journey can feel like a wave motion.
The road route from Siliguri
Siliguri > Sukna > Rangtong > Kurseong> Tung > Sonada> Ghoom> Manebhanjan > Tonglu – 90 km.

By rail: The nearest railway station is Ghoom Railway Station 31 km from Tonglu (entry point to the Singalila National Park).

By air: Singalila National Park is located 13 km from Bagdogra Airport in Bagdogra. That is the nearest airport, but by road, it is less than 100 km and takes 3 to 4 hours.

Book Red Panda and Rhino Tour in India with Nature Safari India.

 

The Third type of Panda – Qinling Panda

Yes, there’s another subspecies of “The Giant Panda” a smaller brown bear called the Qinling panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis.

Weighing around 150-250 lb (70-113 kg), 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) long and 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) tall, the Qinling panda is a big panda subspecies that was discovered in the 1960s but was not recognised as such until 2005. It is the first subspecies of giant panda to be classified, aside from the nominate subspecies. It has a smaller cranium and dark brown and light brown (rather than black and white) fur, as well as a smaller overall size than the nominate subspecies. Instead of being around the eyes, its eye markings are under the lower lid. Brown pandas are quite uncommon.

As of 2001, there were an estimated 100 Qinling pandas in the wild.

 

 

The Qinling Panda is found in China.

 

 Brief Comparison between Giant Panda, Red Panda, and Qinling Panda 

	Giant Panda	Red Panda	Qinling Panda
Height	1.5-1.8 m	0.6 m	1.2 – 1.5 m
Weight	91 Kg	56 Kg	70 – 80 Kg
Fur	White & Black	Red & Black	White & Brown
Found in	China	China, Nepal, Bhutan	China