It’s September 18th, International Red Panda Day. On this day in 2010, the Red Panda Network launched this special day to spread awareness of this endangered species. Since then, the need to protect the red panda has only increased due to climate change. These beautiful creatures reside in the Eastern Himalayas within the nations of China, India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bhutan. Although red pandas are legally protected against poaching, deforestation, habitat destruction, fur trafficking and the illegal pet trade, law enforcement and conservation awareness are both weak in most areas.
Red pandas are much smaller than the more familiar black and white giant pandas, but they aren’t related to giant pandas at all, and despite their appearance, aren’t related to racoons, either. In fact, they’re not related to any other species alive on the planet today. Red pandas are about the size of a housecat, weighing between 12 and 20 pounds. These adorable mammals are enormously popular throughout Asia, where they’re often featured in cartoons and as team mascots. However, only about 10,000 red pandas remain in the wild now. Please help the Red Panda Network, World Wildlife Fund, National Geographic, Australia Zoo, and others spread awareness. ☮️Peace… Jamiese of Pixoplanet