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Federal restrictions apply

Red panda

Ailurus fulgens

Mammals › Cats, dogs and other carnivores (Carnivora) › Ailuridae (Red panda)

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China.

Zoos & aquariums

Experience: Expert / facility

FamilyRed panda

Record lifespan19 years

Adult weight10 lb

Kept byZoos & aquariums

Care at a glance

Species-specific values

Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.

Indoor refuge air temperature	36–75 °F (2–24 °C) EAZA refuge range; provide access during cold weather.	306
Cool nest box air temperature maximum	68 °F (20 °C) At least two cool boxes during sustained summer heat above 23 °C.	306
Cooling trigger air temperature	82 °F (28 °C) Above this temperature, especially with high humidity, EAZA recommends air conditioning; not a basking target.	306
Minimum nest box count	number of animals plus: 1 boxes	306
Diet	Fresh leafy bamboo plus nutritionally complete leaf-eater biscuits. Do not interpret bamboo as a complete captive ration by itself.	306
Adult head body length	45–60 cm Excludes tail.	306
Adult tail length	30–35 cm	306

Warnings

Mostly kept by zoos, public aquariums, sanctuaries or licensed facilities. The guide below describes professional husbandry so you can understand the animal, not as encouragement to keep one privately.

Federal legal status: Federal restrictions apply. See the federal legal snapshot and check your state rules before getting one.

Care guide

Group care guide

Hyenas, bears, red pandas and pinnipeds

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Varies. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Kept by accredited zoos and aquariums with specialized facilities.

Sources 138 139 137

Diet

Species-specific diets (bamboo for pandas, fish for pinnipeds).

Sources 138 139 137

Health watch

Dangerous animals; marine mammals are federally protected.

Sources 138 139 137

Understanding the animal

About this animal

It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. Its head-to-body length is 51–63.5 cm (20.1–25.0 in) with a 28–48.5 cm (11.0–19.1 in) tail, and it weighs between 3.2 and 15 kg (7.1 and 33.1 lb).

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Red panda” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. Its head-to-body length is 51–63.5 cm with a 28–48.5 cm tail, and it weighs between 3.2 and 15 kg. It is well adapted to climbing due to its flexible joints and curved semi-retractile claws. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Red pandas live in temperate climates in deciduous and coniferous forests. — Animal Diversity Web
Social life and communication	Red pandas exhibit several visual displays during intraspecific interactions, including arching the tail and back, the slow raising and lowering of the head while emitting a low intensity puffing, turning the head while jaw-clapping, shaking the head from side to side, a bipedal posture with forelegs extended above the head, and staring. — Animal Diversity Web
Wild diet	Red pandas eat berries, blossoms, bird eggs, bamboo leaves, and the small leaves of other plants. — Animal Diversity Web
Behavior	Red panda's activity changes throughout the year based on the temperature, feeding regimes, and the presence of young. — Animal Diversity Web
Reproduction	Adult red pandas rarely interact with each other outside of the mating season. — Animal Diversity Web
Lifespan	The maximum lifespan of the red panda is 14 years, but the average is eight to ten. — Animal Diversity Web
Appearance and size	Red pandas are approximately 560 to 625 mm long, with relatively long, furry tails, from 370 to 472 mm long. — Animal Diversity Web
History and naming	The red panda was described and named in 1825 by Frederic Cuvier, who gave it its scientific name Ailurus fulgens. Cuvier's description was based on zoological specimens, including skin, paws, jawbones and teeth "from the mountains north of India", as well as an account by Alfred Duvaucel. The red panda was described earlier by Thomas Hardwicke in 1821, but his paper was only published in 1827. — Wikipedia (community-edited)

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 71°F (up to 101°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 32°F (down to 8°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	35–77°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	63–71% on average (driest month about 49%)
Rainfall	about 1225 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons
Winters	Cool to cold winters (lows around 32°F) in much of its native range. Seasonal slowdown may be relevant, but species-specific biology determines whether brumation or hibernation occurs.

Measured at 14 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

Profile

Researched for this exact species. Sources are listed under In the wild above.

History

The red panda was described and named in 1825 by Frederic Cuvier, who gave it its scientific name Ailurus fulgens. Cuvier's description was based on zoological specimens, including skin, paws, jawbones and teeth "from the mountains north of India", as well as an account by Alfred Duvaucel. The red panda was described earlier by Thomas Hardwicke in 1821, but his paper was only published in 1827.

Data and studies

Researched care notes

Findings checked against veterinary, zoo, welfare, keeper and peer-reviewed sources. Air, basking-surface and water temperatures are kept separate, and where sources disagree both are shown. “Study” notes report what a paper measured, not a universal rule.

Red Panda (source taxon group)

AZA recommends shade above 23.8°C and cooled refuge above 26.6°C, considering humidity and vulnerable animals. These are outdoor intervention thresholds, not warm targets.¹
EAZA places bamboo leaves at the centre of feeding, supported by nutritionally complete high-fibre food.²
Train voluntary weighing, monitor individual and seasonal weight goals, and adjust the complete-food portion to condition.²
Fruit is treated chiefly as a training or medical incentive rather than a principal daily food.²
Breeding pairs may be housed together, but female stress or aggression may require separation.¹

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Maximum recorded lifespan

Highest reported19years

AnAge 16219

Myhrvold et al. 16319

Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter. The AnAge record comes from an animal in human care.

Typical adult weight

Average of sources10lb

AnAge 1629.5

Myhrvold et al. 16310.5

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Litter size

Average of sources2young

AnAge 1622

Myhrvold et al. 1632

Average per litter or clutch.

Gestation

Average of sources120days

AnAge 162116

Myhrvold et al. 163123

Female maturity

Average of sources18.5months

AnAge 16218.1

Myhrvold et al. 16318.8

Veterinary & husbandry research

Genetic assessment of captive red panda (Ailurus fulgens) population Kumar A et al., SpringerPlus 2016
Applying Behavioral Conditioning to Identify Anticipatory Behaviors Krebs BL et al., Journal of applied animal welfare science: JAAWS 2017
RED PANDAS' (AILURUS FULGENS) SEROLOGICAL RESPONSE TO CANARYPOX-VECTORED CANINE DISTEMPER VACCINES Ramsay EC et al., Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine: official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 2019
Occurrence and Molecular Characteristics of Microsporidia in Captive Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens) in China Yang J et al., Animals: an open access journal from MDPI 2023

Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 73 on PubMed → 170

Federal legal snapshot

Federal restrictions apply

CITES Appendix I. Appendix I: commercial international trade in wild-caught animals is banned; international movement needs both import and export permits. Buying captive-bred animals within the U.S. isn't restricted by CITES (other federal or state laws may apply). 173 186
USDA Animal Welfare Act. Keeping a pet for yourself doesn't need a federal license. Dealers (including many breeders who sell wholesale or sight-unseen) and exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) generally need a USDA license and inspections; some small-scale breeders and retail sellers are exempt. 184

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Animal Welfare Act standards

Warm-blooded animals not covered elsewhere (Subpart F). Applies to USDA-licensed or registered dealers, exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) and research facilities. Private pet owners are not covered. These are legal minimums, not best care; the species care on this page goes further.

Facilities must be structurally sound and strong enough for the species, with reliable power and water, protected food storage and proper waste disposal. §3.125
Indoors: temperature regulated to protect from extremes, adequate ventilation without drafts, and lighting suited to the species that protects animals from excessive light. §3.126
Outdoors: shade from overheating sun, shelter suited to the local climate, and drainage. Animals must be acclimated before facing climate extremes. §3.127
Outdoor facilities need a perimeter fence at least 8 ft high for potentially dangerous animals (large cats, bears, wolves, rhinoceros, elephants) and 6 ft for others, at least 3 ft from the enclosure, unless USDA approves otherwise. §3.127
Space must allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Poor condition, stress or abnormal behavior can show the space is inadequate. §3.128
Food must be wholesome, palatable and of enough quantity and nutritive value for the species, age and condition, fed at least once a day except during hibernation, normal fasts or veterinary treatment. §3.129
Water must be available as often as needed for health and comfort, in clean receptacles. §3.130
Animals sharing an enclosure must be compatible, and must not be housed near animals that interfere with their health or cause them discomfort. §3.133
There is no general enrichment rule for this subpart; enrichment requirements apply to primates, birds and (exercise) dogs. §3.128

Source: 9 CFR Part 3, current eCFR text (USDA APHIS Animal Care).

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Included in our hand-checked list of animals kept as pets, livestock or in zoos
AnAge has a longevity record from an animal in captivity
1737 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Sources for this sheet

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources) Peer-reviewed researchCurated, referenced longevity and life-history records for thousands of species; maximum lifespans are often from zoo animals.
Myhrvold et al. (2015). An amniote life-history database. Ecology 96: 3109 Peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed compilation of life-history data for over 21,000 birds, mammals and reptiles.
Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and the CITES Secretariat) Zoo, university or veterinaryThe official database of species listed under CITES.
USFWS International Affairs: CITES Zoo, university or veterinaryFederal agency that issues CITES permits.
9 CFR 2.1: Animal Welfare Act licensing (USDA) Zoo, university or veterinaryWho needs a USDA license to breed, sell or exhibit animals.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of zoo animals Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutrition: exotic and zoo animals Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of marine mammals Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.