REFLECTIVE JOURNAL WEEK 1

RED PANDA

Date: 13 February 2009
Time: 4.50pm



Many people have only known about Giant Pandas as they are a very common species. But after a scan on the article in the internet about panda conservation, I had found another type of “PANDA” which is known to be RED PANDAS. They are very interesting animals so we decided to choose on them. Red pandas can also be named as Fire fox or Lesser Panda. They are known to be Herbivore mammals that are specialized as a Bamboo Feeder. They are slightly larger than a Domestic Cat. Their length is about 40 - 60 cm long and weighs about 3 - 6kg. You can be wondering where they are found. They can be found at the mountain chains of the Eastern Himalaya and parts of southwestern China.

They are the origin of South Asia’s three largest rivers, the Brahmaputra, Ganges and Yangtse, which provide water for half of China, northern and northwestern India, Nepal, Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Bhutan and Myanmar. People sometimes mistake that Giant Pandas and Red Pandas look similar but it is a mistaken reality. They have a long and soft reddish-brown fur on upper parts, blackish fur on lower parts light face with tear markings and robust cranial-dental features. Its roundish head has medium-sized upright ears, a black nose, and very dark eyes which is almost pitch black. Their legs are short with thick fur. As they are specialized as Bamboo Feeders they have strong, curved and sharp semi-retractile claws standing inward for grasping of narrow tree branches, leaves and fruit.

It was indeed a great experience for me knowing about this lovely creature. I have adored Kola Bears and I have this new animal to adored as well. It is a pity that they cannot be adopted here in Singapore due to our hot climate.