In Tawang endangered Red Panda spotted

Itanagar: A small red panda, listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of threatened species, has been spotted in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Wednesday.

This is probably the first time that a red panda has been spotted in the border district of the northeastern state.
“Cute and tiny #redpanda spotted in Tawang! The small mammal is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
“These bamboo-cutter species live mostly in the Himalayan regions of the Northeast. Let’s protect them together. They are important for protecting biodiversity and maintaining ecological integrity,” Khando Tweeted with a video of the mammal.
According to the World Wildlife Fund website, the red panda is slightly larger than a domestic cat, with a bear-like body and thick russet fur. The belly and limbs are black with white markings on the sides of the head and above its small eyes.

Red pandas are highly skilled and acrobatic animals that live mostly in trees.

It is the state animal of Sikkim which hosts the Red Panda Festival every year. The winter festival features parades, live music and draws tourists and locals alike.
About 50% of the Red Panda’s habitat is in the Eastern Himalayas.

They use their long, bushy tails for balance and to cover themselves in winter, presumably for warmth.

Primarily a herbivore, the panda’s name comes from the Nepali word ‘punya’, which means bamboo or plant-eating animal.