The Red Panda or "lesser panda" was the first panda ever discovered by European scientists. Back when the Red Panda was discovered, no one knew anything about pandas, let alone knew there were Giant Pandas in the world!

Two scientists, one from England and one from France, discovered the Red Panda about the same time, although both came up with very different names.

Major General Thomas Hardwicke, the English scientist, discovered the Red Panda in the year 1821. His name for the Red Panda was "Wha." According to Hardwicke, the name came from the Red Panda's loud cry or call, resembling the word "Wha." Hardwicke also mentioned several other names for the Red Panda including "poonya" which eventually became the word we now know as "panda." Unfortunately for Hardwicke, he could not get back to England before another scientist returned to Europe and beat him to the chase.

The scientist who came up with the name frequently associated with the Red Panda was Frederic Cuvier, a French naturalist. Cuvier gave the Red Panda its Latin name which is Ailurus fulgens, meaning "fire-colored cat."

Despite the panda's Latin name, the Red Panda is not a cat at all. Most people see the Red Panda as a relative of the American raccoon; however, despite their obvious look-alike features, the Red Panda's closest relative is the Giant Panda. As one can observe, both pandas eat bamboo, though the Red Panda only eats the newest leaves off the bamboo, while the Giant Panda devours the entire thing. Both pandas also walk with their feet pointing inward, and both are adept at climbing trees; however, the Giant Panda prefers to spend more of it's time on the ground and you are more likely to find a Red Panda stretched out on a tree limb sleeping.

Red Pandas, like their relatives the Giant Pandas, live in the temperate forests in the Himalayan foothills from western Nepal through northern Burma and into the mountainous regions of southwestern China. The Red Panda is very sensitive to weather changes and prefers the cooler temperatures around 50-60°F. On cold days, you will see the Red Panda curled up on a tree limb sleeping to conserve energy whereas on hot days, they completely stretch out to sleep.

Red Pandas spend most of their day sleeping and are most active during the night and early mornings. Part of the reason is because of their bamboo diet. Bamboo, which is the primary food for the Red Panda, does not have many calories and does not give the Red Panda much energy. To keep their energy levels up, the Red Panda will spend much of its time sleeping or resting in between times when the search for food. The Red Panda exerts the most energy when it searches for bamboo. Since they will only eat the newest leaves, it takes them much more time to find "good" bamboo than their counterparts the Giant Pandas.

When it comes to reproduction, the Red Panda and Giant Panda also differ. Red Pandas have a longer gestation period than their counterparts the Giant Pandas. The Red Pandas reproduce generally in the late spring and summer when in their native land, the more tender and digestible bamboo shoots are available. The gestation period for a Red Panda is 135 days (about 4 1/2 months) and produce only small liters averaging about two cubs each. The young pandas grow fast and reach adult size at about 12 months and reach sexual maturity at 18 months.

Even though Red Panda reproduction is slow and does not produce many young, the National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center (CRC) in Front Royal, Virginia has been able to bred over three hundred Red Pandas! Almost all zoos that have Red Pandas participate in management programs designed to ensure that their zoo population survives in the future. All North American zoo Red Panda populations are managed under the Species Survival Program (SSP) a subsidiary of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA). This program maintains a studbook of all Red Pandas in North America, uses genetic and demographic management analysis to determine which animals should be mated, and develops long-term management and research strategies. There is a similar program that has emerged in Japan, Europe, Australia and China. The International Red Panda Management Group (IRPMG) was formed to coordinate these programs and integrate them with the conservation efforts of governmental and non- governmental agencies around the world.

Since the Red Panda was discovered by competing scientists in 1821, it has had a rich history of conservation. It has gone from a truly endangered species to one that we have great hope in bringing the Red Panda back from the brink of extinction. With the help of the researchers at the National Zoo's CRC facility and conservation efforts world wild, we can help make people more aware of these endangered species.