Red Panda painting T-Shirt

Red Panda painting

Red Pandas are found in the temperate forests of the Himalayas and some high mountain areas of China and Myanmar (Burma). Anatomical features indicate Red Pandas are most closely related to the racoon and similar to giant pandas and bears but are now in a ‘family’ of their own. Like Giant Pandas, Red Pandas have an extra ‘thumb’ which is simply an enlarged bone. In captivity Red Pandas can live up to 14 years but it is not known how long they live in the wild.
The Chinese name for Red Panda is hunho or firefox, due to their colour and similar size to a fox. The red panda was first discovered in 1821, 48 years before the giant pandas were found in 1869. The major threats confronting Red Pandas are loss and fragmentation of habitat due to deforestation; poaching for the pet and fur trades; and competition from domestic livestock. The fur of Red Pandas is used to make hats and clothing by local people in China. The fur hat with its long, luxurious tail at the back looks beautiful and warm. In Yunnan Province, this type of hat is still desired by newlyweds, because it was regarded as a talisman for a happy marriage in the past. The Red Panda is nearly extinct in the western part of its range due to human interference in its natural habitat.
The ‘Exotica Collection’ wildlife painting portrays the beauty of the shy Red Panda while creating an awareness of their plight.