The origin of the name "Panda" is the Nepalese word "Nigalya ponya",
which has the meaning of "eater of bamboo". And this explains the
similarity of the names of the Red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and
the Giant panda: Both species are specialized on eating bamboo but are
not as closely related as their names might indicate. The Red panda's
dependency on bamboo isn't as distinct as in the Giant panda, which
feeds exclusively on bamboo. Red pandas also consume roots, acorns,
berries, lichens and sometimes eggs and young birds. The small bears are
too slow to carry off faster animals. Anyway is their way of life
marked by a certain kind of portliness. They spend much time resting on
high branches, curled up or stretched, depending on outside temperature.
Thus Red pandas are saving energy since bamboo is very low on energy
content. Up in the trees they are quite safe from their predators like
the Snow leopard; down on the ground Red pandas wouldn't have any chance
against them.
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