International Red Panda Day will be celebrated worldwide on Saturday, November 13, 2010. Zoos nationwide will be educating the public about this small creature that bears little resemblance to its larger relative the Great Panda. The Red Panda Network offers the following information about Red Pandas:
*There are two sub-species of Red Panda; one is native to Nepal and the other is native to China
*The Red Panda is mostly a solitary animal, although the young grow slowly so they remain with the mother about one year
*Like the Great Panda, their diet consists mostly of bamboo and sometimes insects. However, unlike the Giant Panda, the Red Panda eats only the young shoots and leaves of the bamboo plant
*Red Panda habitat is shrinking due to logging and overcrowding of people living nearby
*The Red Panda weighs approximately 11 pounds when fully grown
Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka is participating in International Red Panda Day
Events start at 1 pm with an informational talk by Brian Williams, Executive Director of the Red Panda Network. Other events include mask-making, games, trivia, and more. Admission to the zoo is free all day on November 13. The zoo is located at 3414 W Street, Eureka and winter hours are 10 am - 5 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.
For a list of zoos around the world participating in International Red Panda Day, visit this site.
If you aren't able to get to the zoo to see the red pandas up close, pick up one of the following books at the library or used bookstore.
Red Pandas by Sara Swan Miller
Red Pandas (Naturebooks) by Joshua Rutten
Comments
Never knew there was an International Red Panda Day!
This is the first year and we created it.
Thanks for commenting Brian. I hope this becomes an annual event that will bring awareness to the red panda.
Red Panda Network is celebrating the 2nd annual International Red Panda Day on September 17. Downloadable activity packets are available for schools, zoos and other groups via redpandanetwork.org
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