Human Impact on Red Panda Populations 

Red pandas are “raccoon-like” animals with fluffy fur ranging from orange, brown, black, and white. The red panda is found in Central China, Nepal, Burma, and other places in the surrounding area. They live in isolated mountain territories among trees of which they spend most of their time in. These species live between 8-10 years in the wilderness, however, they can span a lifetime of 15 years in protected zoos where they are not open to the many human causes for their extinction. These causes including deforestation, poaching, and accidental trapping have caused the red panda population to decline over the last 50 years.

Deforestation

The red panda habits among trees as they chew bamboo and other leaves. Its claws allow for them to stay in the tree and their fur helps them camouflage against the lichen tree and red moss. “The animal is at home here, and few places seem as remote and safe. But as more towns surround the panda's mountain forests, more of this habitat is chopped down for farming and firewood. Researchers estimate that the animal's range has shrunk as much as 50 percent over the past two decades. ‘Panda habitats that at one time were connected to each other through the forests now end up confined to isolated mountaintops,’ says Miles Roberts, a wildlife biologist at the National Zoo...” Deforestation is one of the major issues causing red panda endangerment around the country as humans are cutting down more trees for resources leaving animals with fewer habitats and food sources. This decline in habitats is the number one threat to the red panda species. The solution to this issue is to simply stop cutting down large amounts of trees, which would not only benefit the red pandas but other species as well. Preserving the trees allows the environment to remain unbothered and unified. It also allows for more biodiversity among plants and animals as other organisms can habit different tree environment. As deforestation continues the tree diversity decreases as many trees in one area are cut down. Along with that organisms that habit the trees decrease and die out. This issue needs to be resolved with reforestation so that more habitats are created for animals like the red panda.

Poaching

Not only is deforestation an issue amongst red panda populations, but poaching of these animals in which they are being hunted for leads to the killing many red pandas in the process. “Red pandas are hunted for their pelts, which are made into fur capes and hats.” These products are being sold in places like Bhutan where the red pandas are found. If this continues there will no longer be pandas in that environment due to the immense amount of poaching. Not only are they poached, but some pandas are even illegally traded. Both these practices are increasing impacting already endangered species. These animals are sold around the world as people buy them to create such products inadvertently being involved in the endangerment of this species. The poaching of these pandas has led to a decrease in biodiversity as the red panda population is decreasing. Poaching of these pandas is such a bad practice as red pandas are a unique species and “are the only living member of their own taxonomic family.” The solution to this situation is an increase in watch on illegal poaching and in general a stop to the poaching of red pandas. Another solution is to not buy products in which use furs of red pandas and other goods that may have been made from the poaching of them. Organizations have also been created to preserve these animals and help prevent them from being poached. This includes the Conservation in Bhutan Project created by the Red Panda Network. People can donate to these organizations to help solve this issue as well.

Accidental Trapping

Another cause of the decline in red pandas is the problem of accidental trapping. A lot of times the red panda can easily get stuck in a trap set for another animal. These traps are dangerous and usually meant for such animals, like bears and wolves, however, pandas will wander into the trap accidentally. “Due to their small size, red pandas who get caught in such traps are usually critically injured, and cannot survive” (Cook 2018). This happens more often than people think and it has led to a decline in the panda population. Along with that, this issue leads to a decline in biodiversity as any animal can get caught in the trap and killed. This human-caused issue can be easily stopped by putting fewer traps out for small animals such as the red panda to easily get caught and killed.